Unity of the Tribes
Artist: Russell Newell
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.
Height: 17.5 cm
Method of acquisition: Given (2013) by Rusell Newell
2013-05-01 CE - 2013-07-01 CE
silver plated Aluminium
Accession number: AF.10.2013
Primary reference Number: 207347
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Antiquities
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: 2024-12-23 12:52:39
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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/207347
|title=Unity of the Tribes
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 12:52:39|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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