Skip Navigation

Collection Menu
Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). <em>Ceremonial Hoe</em>, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.216.2_front_PS6.jpg)
Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). Ceremonial Hoe, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.216.2_front_PS6.jpg)
Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). <em>Ceremonial Hoe</em>, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.216.2_front_PS6.jpg)

Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). Ceremonial Hoe, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.216.2_front_PS6.jpg)

Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). <em>Ceremonial Hoe</em>, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.216.2_threequarter_PS6.jpg)

Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). Ceremonial Hoe, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.216.2_threequarter_PS6.jpg)

Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). <em>Ceremonial Hoe</em>, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 87.216.1_87.216.2_threequarter_bw.jpg)

Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). Ceremonial Hoe, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 87.216.1_87.216.2_threequarter_bw.jpg)

Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). <em>Ceremonial Hoe</em>, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 87.216.1_87.216.2_back_bw.jpg)

Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). Ceremonial Hoe, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 87.216.1_87.216.2_back_bw.jpg)

DOWNLOAD

Ceremonial Hoe

Arts of Africa

Dan women form cooperative work groups to plant their rice farms. They use short-handled hoes for their labor. Each community chooses the leader of the work group based on her reputation for energy and leadership. As a symbol of her role as an important community leader, she carries a hoe carved with a figurative handle on those public occasions in which she wishes to show her status.

These hoes are examples of how utilitarian items may be embellished and elaborated to take on symbolic value. The heads on the handles may have been carved as portraits of the owners, or they may represent the artist's conception of an ideal face.

This text refers to these objects: 87.216.2; 87.216.1
ARTIST Feia Tomekpa, Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s
CULTURE Dan
MEDIUM Wood, iron
  • Place Made: Garplay, Liberia
    • DATES 20th century
    DIMENSIONS 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 87.216.2
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Ceremonial hoe with cylindrical handle of wood, topped by human head with stylized face, wearing a coiffure which is ridged in the center and incised with geometric designs. Two small metal teeth set into mouth. Bottom of handle widens into bifurcated form with a center projection. The metal hoe, pointed at the tip, is attached to this lower section. Series of rings carved below head, and two narrow bands of triangular forms just below widened bottom section. Condition: One long crack down the front starting at chin; crack in bottom lower section; Small chips and nicks in wood; metal hoe worn and patinated. Recieved together with 84.216.1; both mounted on the same detachable wood and metal mount.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). Ceremonial Hoe, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.216.2_front_PS6.jpg)
    IMAGE front, 87.216.2_front_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
    You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
    RECORD COMPLETENESS
    Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.
    Feia Tomekpa (Dan, flourished 1940s–early 1950s). <em>Ceremonial Hoe</em>, 20th century. Wood, iron, 15 × 2 × 4 1/4 × 8 in. (38.1 × 5.1 × 10.8 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Leyden, 87.216.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.216.2_front_PS6.jpg)

    TAGS

    tools
    carving
    wood
    iron
    Dan
    Ceremonial Hoe
    Africa
    African art
    Dual figures
    Agriculture
    farming
    cultivation
    crop
    woman centric
    farm implement
    carved

    TAGS

    tools
    carving
    wood
    iron
    Dan
    Ceremonial Hoe
    Africa
    African art
    Dual figures
    Agriculture
    farming
    cultivation
    crop
    woman centric
    farm implement
    carved

    RELATED OBJECTS

    Hammerstone Olla or Jar Platter (Knights of Labor) Saint Joseph and the Christ Child Burial Urn with Male Effigy Figure Pair of Torah Pointers Tray or Waiter Scrimshaw, Whales Tooth Scrimshaw, Whales Tooth Big Spoon with Suggestion of Carved Bird on Handle Crucifix Candlestand Cup and Saucer Pillow Vase Candlestand Cigarette Box with Cover Creamer Centerpiece Bowl Tray Cane Medallion Jheri Now, Curl Later Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey) Ceremonial seat (ngundja) Ceremonial Staff (Kibango) Ceremonial Staff (Kibango) Mask (Nganga Diphomba) Mask for the Okuyi Society (Mukudj) Mask (Pwoom Itok) Three-Headed Figure (Sakimatwemtwe) Hair Ornament Mudpack Coiffure (Emedot) Tomb Tile with Phoenix Design Reliquary Guardian Figure (Eyema-o-Byeri) Figure of a Seated Musician (Koro Player) Figure of Standing Female Figure with Hollow Rectangular Body Wristlet Bracelet Bell with Chain and Stick Handle Stave Handle with Ring Small Model of Boat Riveter on 250 Ton Crane, Cherokee Dam, Tennessee Mask Mask Isabel Bishop Ceremonial Hoe Deangle Mask Small Chisel Fragment of a Composite Die and Mold Personal Miniature Mask Personal Miniature Mask Personal Miniature Mask Personal Miniature Mask Personal Miniature Mask Personal Miniature Mask The Veteran in a New Field Domestic Scene