The Museum' permanent exhibits include its remarkable collection of ethnographic objects from Central Africa. The temporary exhibitions aim to be a podium for contemporary African art and science. [posted: Mar 04, 2004]
"One of the largest collections of African arts in the United States, the Fowler Museum’s holdings encompass metalwork, wood carvings, textiles, musical instruments, popular urban arts, and ceramics. These arts come from throughout the African continent and span millennia, reflecting the vibrancy and diversity of the arts from nearly every time period and region of the continent." Search the digital collection, and past exhibits. [posted: Mar 04, 2004]
"The African collection at the Penn Museum is one of the largest collections in the country. The collection includes approximately 15,000 ethnographic and 5,000 archaeological objects and most of the collection was obtained between 1891 and 1937. Although many of the artifacts can be appreciated from a purely artistic or aesthetic standpoint, the Museum's main interest in them is as an ethnographic study collection. The collection therefore contains everything from masks and statuary to architectural pieces, clothing, musical instruments and ordinary household implements." [posted: Mar 04, 2004]