Fly whisk with bone handle and dyed horsehair tassel

A fly whisk lies diagonally on a pale background, with a slender tapered pale handle that flares into a wrapped collar and a fan of long hair. The hair is banded in dark reddish-brown and light golden tones, splaying into loose strands at the tip. The object is shown alone against a soft, even backdrop, emphasizing its linear form and the contrast of its colors.

Artist

Amhara artist

Date

Mid-19th century

Medium

Bone, hair, plant fiber

Source

Smithsonian (National Museum of African Art)

Size

1920 × 1335 px

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