Medicine Horn

Kaguru, Gogo, or Pare, Tanzania

Early 20th century

Wood, Fiber, Beads

30cm Tall

Provenance:

Private Collection, Amsterdam

Medicine horns and gourds are used all throughout Tanzania by various ethnic groups such as the Kaguru, Zigua, Pare, Shambala, Makonde, Nyamwezi, etc. These horns are used to hold a variety of substances thought to have medicinal properties, and the carved head acting as a stopper is said to ‘charge’ the substances contained within.