Figure of a Man Holding a Crocodile
1 of 2
Object Label
Nothing is known for certain about the original use of stone carvings such as this one, since the area in which they were made suffered severe social and political disruption in the 1500s. The crocodile most likely represents an ancestor, and the figure some form of communication between the living and the ancestor. The forelegs of the crocodile merge with the arms of the man, suggesting a deep link between the two. The carver of this figure probably belonged to a group of Sapi artists who also made objects for export, such as the ivory cup in this case.
Caption
Sapi. Figure of a Man Holding a Crocodile, 15th century or earlier. Stone, 4 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (10.2 x 3.8 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by the Noah-Sadie K. Wachtel Foundation, Inc., 2000.93.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2000.93.1_SL1_edited.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Figure of a Man Holding a Crocodile
Date
15th century or earlier
Geography
Place made: Sierra Leone
Medium
Stone
Classification
Dimensions
4 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (10.2 x 3.8 x 5.7 cm)
Credit Line
Purchased with funds given by the Noah-Sadie K. Wachtel Foundation, Inc.
Accession Number
2000.93.1
Rights
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.
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