Sapi-Portuguese Saltcellar Lid

This is a 16th century ivory saltcellar or box. It is very ornate, with a series of seated figures in high relief surrounding the base, and man-eating crocodiles on the lid. The British Museum records refer to this as Afro-Portuguese, a term used to indicate items from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, made for a Portuguese market in the 15th and 16th centuries. Such items display a mixture of African and European elements and motifs in their overall form and ornamentation, and were considered prestige items across Europe. A more specific term for items patronised in Sierra Leone, is Sapi-Portuguese.

Further Information

  • Type: Ivories
  • Object: Sapi-Portuguese Saltcellar Lid
  • Materials: Bone, ivory, tooth
  • Culture Group: Bullom, Temne
  • Dimensions: 235mm [H]
  • Production Date: 1490-1530
  • Associated Places: Unknown
  • Associated People: William Wareham
  • Museum: British Museum
  • Accession Number: BM:Af.1867.325.1.b

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