Object details
Accession number
U27e821.1-2
Primary Creator
African
Full title
Two Poison-tipped Pygmy Arrows
Creation Date
late 19th century - early 20th century
Object Case
Presidents And Statesmen Case
Provenance
Probably acquired by African explorer, Arthur Jermy Mounteney Jephson (1858-1908) during the Emin Pasha relief expedition, 1896-89.
Gift from Athur Jermy Mounteney Jephson to Isabella Stewart Gardner before 1908.
Display Media
Metal head on wood shaft
Dimension Notes
U27e821.1: 44.3 cm (17 7/16 in.) lengthU27e821.2: 47.5 cm (18 11/16 in.) length
Web Commentary
These diminutive arrows were a Christmas gift to Isabella Stewart Gardner from Arthur Jermy Mounteney Jephson, an English army officer turned author and adventurer. Jephson accompanied explorer Henry Morton Stanley on the notorious Emin Pasha Relief Expedition between 1886-1889 and appears to have collected these arrows during his travels in equatorial Africa. While they were originally tipped with poison and used for hunting, Jephson assured Gardner that he had “rubbed the poison off” before presenting the arrows to her.
Permanent Gallery Location
Long Gallery
Rights and reproductions
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