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RIGHT: Hat with tassel. Temne, Sierra Leone. Silver. H: 19.2 cm. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, gift of William Siegmann. 2011.70.29. ABOVE: Headdress element, Moche, Peru. C. AD 1000. Museo Larco, Lima, Peru. Photo: Joachim Rubio. LEFT: Headdress, “El Tocado.” Middle Sican, Peru. AD 900–1100. Museo Sican, Peru. Photo © Rafael Rioja. VISIONS FROM THE FOREST Washington, DC—William Siegmann (1943–2011)—Bill, as scholars and collectors internationally knew him— was a rare individual whose deepseated knowledge about the arts of Africa and his exceptional eye for quality distinguished him as a true connoisseur. During many years of research and curatorial work in West Africa and the United States, Siegmann developed a large personal collection of traditional African art, primarily from Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire, which reflected his extensive fieldwork and study. Long the curator of African art at the Brooklyn Museum, his own collection reflected his time in West Africa, where he lived and worked from 1965 to 1987. It provides an excellent overview of the region’s traditional art forms, including masks and other artworks used in men’s and women’s initiation associations, jewelry, prestige objects, and textiles. Visions from the Forests: The Art of Liberia and Sierra Leone, on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art until August 17, features some seventy artworks from Siegmann’s own collection. Together these works reveal the deeply personal and scholarly connections he forged with the people and MUSEUM news PERUVIAN GOLD Washington, DC—The National Geographic Museum is temporarily home to a remarkable collection of ancient gold and silver artifacts excavated from Peru’s legendary royal tombs. Peruvian Gold: Ancient Treasures Unearthed, on view until September 14, showcases a stunning array of extraordinary objects from Peru’s pre-Inca heritage, including gold ceremonial and funerary masks, textiles, ceremonial ornaments, ceramics, and jewelry. The centerpiece of the exhibition is unquestionably “El Tocado,” the largest and most ornate pre-Columbian headdress ever discovered. This extraordinary example of gold regalia dates from the Middle Sican period (AD 900–1100) and came to light again in 1991. The exhibition draws its material from three Peruvian institutions: the Sican National Museum, the Larco Museum, and the Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru. The objects are organized thematically, with the first group emphasizing the importance of symbolism in Peruvian culture through intricate animal masks and impressive breastplates worn by dignitaries and priests. It goes on to highlight objects that illustrate ancient Peruvian craftsmanship, attire, rituals, and even libations. From nose rings to gold feathers to stunning masks, the diverse selection of artifacts in Peruvian Gold offers a sweeping view of the rich artistic culture of early Peru.


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