African Ivory Research Network #4
Ivories on a piece of paper. Notices on Sapi cups and saltcellars in Renaissance Spain

René Lommez Gomes (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais)

April 5, 2023 | 6 PM (GMT) | Online: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/91852686336?pwd=dWNsLzROSlNvVGVjVCtvdTM0Nm1aZz09

Organization | African Ivory Research Network and Centro de História da Universidade de Lisboa

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African Ivory Research Network Seminar #3
 
Ivories on a piece of paper. Notices on Sapi cups and saltcellars in Renaissance Spain
René Lommez Gomes
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais      

Online | April 5, 2023 | 6 PM (GMT)

ZOOM Meeting: 
https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/91852686336?pwd=dWNsLzROSlNvVGVjVCtvdTM0Nm1aZz09

Abstract​
The will of the III Duke of Medina Sidonia, who died in 1507 in Andalusia, lists many objects placed or displayed along the different rooms of his residence. Among these there is a small collection of objects coming from distant places, such as the Spanish America, the Middle East and the northern and western coasts of Africa. Among raffia fabrics, cotton cloths and other objects from Africa, is mentioned a set of five salt cellars and pitchers carved in ivory, all of them fully decorated: some with crocodiles and others with heads with two faces. Analyzing the data displayed in the will and comparing the objects described with ivory pieces currently preserved in museums and private collections, this communication studies traces of two moments of the social life of these objects, before and after their arrival in Europe.

​René Lommez Gomes
René Lommez Gomes, Art Historian, Curator, and Exhibitions is Associate Professor of Art History, Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG, Brazil) since 2010. Currently he is holding a position as postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo.

About the AIRN Seminar
The African Ivory Research Network (AIRN) runs a seminar at the Centre for History of the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon. This seminar addresses African ivory from any historical period and from a variety of historical perspectives, including economic history, cultural history, art history, environmental history and archaeology. In addition, it also intends to promote sessions related to heritage preservation, wildlife protection, ecology, law and illegal trade, among other issues relevant to this topic.

Contributors to this seminar include academics from around the world who have researched or are researching any topic related to African ivory and are willing to share their research with a wider community of researchers and experts, including sharing ongoing research. The main goal of this seminar is to promote an open discussion on any issue related with African ivory, profiting from the different theoretical frameworks and research interests followed by each speaker. 
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The seminar consists of monthly conferences to be held from January to May including a 50-60 minutes talk followed by a 20-30 minutes discussion. Sessions take place on Wednesdays starting at 6 PM (GMT) in online format, via zoom, although some may be in hybrid format (see below). Hybrid sessions take place at the School of Arts and Humanities, Room B112.G (limited availability).

AIRN is an offspring of a joint research project developed by the universities of Lisbon and Minas Gerais on the history of African ivories in the Atlantic world, which was carried out between 2016 and 2019 under the supervision of Peter Mark (https://africanivoriesul.wordpress.com/).