Fly whisk. The handle is a short and relatively straight stick stripped of bark. At upper end is a long, thick hank of horse hair, attached by a tightly woven panel of horse hair and cotton string. Hair thins slightly toward end of whisk.

• History Of Use

  A fly whisk, called "chira", is a commonly used tool used to shoo away flies. Undecorated ones were handled by the male head of a household. In additional to practical uses, they can be used for ceremonies by people of rank. The use of horse hair symbolized high status because horses were difficult to keep alive in a country with tse-tse flies. Ceremonial whisks have intricate handles, such as ornamented metal and ivory, and horse hair can be dyed bright colours.

---

• Type of Item whisk
• Culture Ethiopian
• Material horse hair, wood, cotton fibre
• Measurements height 85.5 cm, width 9.0 cm, depth 4.0 cm (overall)

---

• Previous Owner Edward Harvey, Lorna Marsden
• Received from Edward Harvey, Lorna Marsden

---

• Made in Gondar

---

• Creation Date before 1972
• Ownership Date before July 15, 2016
• Acquisition Date on July 15, 2016

---

• Condition good
• Accession Number 3188/0010