1999_11
Unknown African artist (Luba), early 20th century, Divination Gourd. Gourd, bone, feathers, metal, fur, seeds, and various other natural and artificial materials. The Barry D. Maurer (Class of 1959) Collection of African Art.

This installation presents an array of African art, including many ritual objects used in divination rites in Central and West Africa. The majority of the works on view were gifts of two brothers, both Amherst alumni: Barry Maurer, Class of 1959, and Evan Maurer, Class of 1966. Evan Maurer, former director of the University of Michigan Museum of Art and of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, is a respected African and Native American scholar. Allen Roberts, Class of 1967, former director of the African Studies Center at UCLA, has also contributed works in honor of Evan Maurer.