The leopard's properties have led it to be seen as a supernatural being; it moves silently, is active at night, possesses great cunning and strength, and strikes – powerfully and unpredictably – humans and animals. In many African societies, it's believed that these properties are also shared by those who can communicate with spirits. The leopard as pattern, symbol, and material is therefore often seen as a magical object, which is used by healers and religious specialists. This according to the principle that a creature that is powerful in life is also powerful in death, and that this power can be preserved through a material that belonged to or symbolises the creature.
African magical objects are often composites of a variety of substances, each of which supplies a desired property. It is therefore normal that the teeth, claws, and bones of leopards that are used in the objects are intermingled with material from other animals and plants. An example in the display is a leopard tooth wrapped in snakeskin, another animal with magical powers.