Amulet Depicting Birds
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Amulet Depicting Birds” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
This small brass amulet consists of two frontal avian forms atop a rhombus. The birds are represented abstractly with flat, planar heads and long beaks; their tubular arms hold crosshatched rectangles. The very bottom of the rhombus has signs of crosshatching as well. Diviners in Senufo communities serve as intercessors between the human sphere and the natural world—sometimes perceived in terms of hostile nature spirits. The material realm is often employed in the form of small figurines or amulets like this one or in large wooden sculptures, to aid in the diviners’ efforts to establish bonds with the spiritual realm.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1978.920
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — © the artist or rights holder
