Skip to Main Content

Heddle Pulley (bird)

c. 1935
Wood and metal
Overall: 21.6 cm (8 1/2 in.)
Gift of Katherine C. White 1973.219
Location: not on view
This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Download, Print and Share

Did You Know?

There are eleven species of hornbills in Côte d'Ivoire, where this bird-topped pulley was carved.

Description

The heddle pulley, a working element of a narrow-band loom, bears a miniature sculpture. Heddle pulleys support and separate threads during weaving. Mounted above the weaver, the pulleys allow him to glance up at an object of inspiring beauty, rather than pure functionality. This pully depicts a slender-beaked hornbill reaching toward its belly and may allude to fertility. Besides inspiring weavers, these publicly visible miniature sculptures reportedly acted as “advertisements” for carvers in parts of West Africa.
Heddle Pulley (bird)

Heddle Pulley (bird)

c. 1935

Africa, West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Baule-style carver

See Also

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.