Carving. Squatting female figure on round self-base. Left breast mostly missing. Elongated head with shallow neck. Arms appear to be bent at elbow with hands attached at the waist. Negative space between arms and torso. Fingers and toes are squared off. Belly and belly button protrude out. Highly stylized ears high on the head resemble "9". no definition of lips. Three horizontal incised lines on cheeks. Hair is mohawk-like with herringbone pattern incised. Possibly representing a braid. Cracks on back and left side of head.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Badagry, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
W. Africa; Nigeria; Yoruba; Egungun (Badagry)
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
unknown
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works) and Ere ibeji
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
December 15, 1995
Context of use:
Traditionally carved upon the death of a twin or twins.