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Unity of the Tribes: AF.10.2013

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Unity of the Tribes

Maker(s)

Artist: Russell Newell

Entities

Categories

Description

Aluminium hair comb decorated with clenched hands and a tree with strong roots. Representing the unity of the different cultural groups who made up the Maroon people. Today the Maroons of Accompong identify with the Asante culture of modern Ghana.

One of a series of 10 combs telling the strory of the Jamaican Maroons. The Maroons were a rebel group comprised of several West African tribes who escaped their captors on arrival in Jamaica. Together they fought the British for 80 years, using their knowledge of the Cockpit Mountain area and clever ambush techniques. After a final battle, led by the fearless Captain Cudjoe, the Maroons cut off the ears of the vanquished British soldiers and sent them to the British Governor. This final act forced the British to sign a peace treaty with the Maroons. On the 24th February 1738 the Accompong Maroons were granted an independent state within Jamaica, where they live to this day.
Each comb is made from 3mm aluminium and weighs 46 grams. The surface is shaped and finished by hand to a high polish and then etched with a design on the handle. Finally, each comb is plated to cutlery grade with silver and detailed with 23 ct gold leaf and shellac-based ink.

Measurements and weight

Height: 17.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2013) by Rusell Newell

Dating

2013-05-01 CE - 2013-07-01 CE

Materials used in production

silver plated Aluminium

Techniques used in production

Mouldmade

Identification numbers

Accession number: AF.10.2013
Primary reference Number: 207347
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Friday 18 December 2015 Updated: Tuesday 10 October 2023 Last processed: Wednesday 11 October 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Antiquities

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Unity of the Tribes" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/207347 Accessed: 2024-11-05 03:46:40

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/207347 |title=Unity of the Tribes |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 03:46:40|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-207347

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