Tall ivory divination tapper with a pointed shaft, carved human head at the center, and ringed grooved bands on a stacked base, against a dark background.

Yoruba Divination Tapper in Carved Ivory

A slender, tapering ivory tapper rises from a stacked base of ringed bands and a small carved human head with a bulging face and a crested top. The smooth, pale shaft and grooved collars show fine wear and a warm, aged patina against a dark gray backdrop.

Artist: Yoruba artist
Date: 19th century
Medium: Ivory
Source: Smithsonian (National Museum of African Art)
Size: 802 × 1791 px

Download full size

Public domain · Smithsonian (National Museum of African Art) releases this image under CC0 (latest date 1900).
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: CC0 (Smithsonian Open Access)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of African Art

19th century sculpture ritual object carved ivory african sculpture yoruba ivory