Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: The Museum Year 2009
The Year
Acquisitions
Art of Asia, Oceania, and Africa: July 2008–June 2009
Whistle
Image: 20.3 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm (8 x 2 1/2 x 1 in.)
Wood
Classification: Musical instruments
Culture: African, Cameroon, western Grassfields
Country of Origin, for Customs: Cameroon Grassfields
Accession number: 2008.1507
Description: This whistle has the distinctive "tribal" shape of a crescent, a curvilinear cylindrical stem, and a fletched "tail" at the opposite end. Used by men, these provide rhythmic accompaniment to the Mong dance.
Provenance/Ownership History: About 2002, acquired from an African merchant, New York by Professor Dwight B. Heath, Providence, RI; 2008, gift of Dwight B. Heath and Anne C. Heath in memory of their son David to the MFA. (Accession date: December 17, 2008)
Gift of Dwight B. and Anna Cooper Heath, in memory of their son, David B. Heath