Liberia
Liberian

Gourd, string, cowrie shells
Mid 20th Century
Length: 16 in, Width:13 in
Idiophone – Struck Indirectly – Shaken -Rattle

This ‘agbê’ is a handmade rattle from Liberia that consists of a dry gourd or calabash that has been hollowed, painted black, and covered on the outside with a net of cowrie shells strung with gold cotton thread. Due to its size, weight, and the number of cowrie shells, it creates a very loud rattling sound when played.