Medicine Stopper/ Finial - Pende People, D.R. Congo

This object was used as a stopper for a medicine container by a diviner or healer who used a storage container such as a gourd for the storage of herbal extracts, powders, and other forms of medicine. This stopper could then be removed with its longer coned portion hidden inside. Such stoppers were used to dispense, extract, or apply substances, and their forms were often customized.

Height: 7 ¼” x Diameter: 5/8” NOTE: There is a small split and nick in the wood due to its usage and age.

Ex. Allen Davis Collection, Virginia.
Allen Davis - August 23, 1927 ~ February 17, 2025
Ambassador Allen Davis, led a life marked by service, diplomacy and a deep appreciation for nature and a passion for collecting African art. He found beauty and meaning in the cultures he encountered throughout his life.
To view more of the Allen Davis Collection entitiled ‘African Brilliance: A Diplomat’s Sixty Years of Collecting’ an exhibit at Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State 2020 go to;
https://exhibitions.psu.edu/s/african-brilliance/page/allen-davis