Sapi-Portuguese Saltcellar

Sapi-Portuguese Lidded Saltcellar • Sierra Leone • Ivory, 15th–16th century • H. 23,1 cm • Courtesy of Entwistle Gallery, London
Sapi-Portuguese Lidded Saltcellar • Sierra Leone • Ivory, 15th–16th century • H. 23,1 cm • Courtesy of Entwistle Gallery, London

 

This magnificent piece is a very rare early 16th century ivory saltcellar from the ancient Sapi kingdom of Sierra Leone. The scan "unrolls" the circular saltcellar so both sides can be viewed at once. 

 

Careful observation shows more delicate treatment of the female faces. The men have heavier brows and eyelids as a sign of male toughness. The scan provides no evidence that there was once a carved element on the lid, as is generally the case with Sapi-Portuguese saltcellars. 

 

Video CT scan : 3D opaque VRT view

Sapi-Portuguese Lidded Saltcellar • Sierra Leone • Ivory, 15th–16th century • H. 23,1 cm • Courtesy of Entwistle Gallery, London
Outside view
Sapi-Portuguese Lidded Saltcellar • Sierra Leone • Ivory, 15th–16th century • H. 23,1 cm • Courtesy of Entwistle Gallery, London
Inside view

Video CT scan : 3D opaque VRT view with a frontal clipping plane

Video CT scan : 3D opaque VRT view

Video CT scan : 3D opaque VRT view

Comparison of two ivory Afro-Portuguese saltcellars.

 

This 3D scan was built using only CT scan data — no photography used.

 

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