Armlet (Gungulu)

The Gurunsi encompass many cultural groups who are linked through their use of the common Gur language. Ivory armlets (gungulu) are worn by Gurunsi women in the Upper Volta region of present-day Burkina Faso. The Gurunsi treat repairs as an opportunity to enhance the design, as seen in the delicate iron tabs on this armlet. This piece, formed lengthwise from the hollow segment of the tusk, is composed of a curved rectangular section with a central hole that would have exposed the skin of the wearer.