carving, probably Eshu. standing male figure with no base. apron wrapped around waist, exposed buttocks. extremely angular. holds what appears to be a sword or machete in his right hand, while his left arm and hand are attached at his side. scarification marks on cheek and forehead. he wears a round flat cap which likely had something else attached to it. feet are block-like with no toe-definition, fingers are more identifiable. 21.5 cm tall.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Abeokuta, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
W. Africa; Nigeria; Yoruba; Abeokuta
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)
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:
if this is Eshu, it was likely used in the worship of Eshu
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
height 21.5 centimeters
Comment:
Unreadable pencil notation on Bascom Index card “Eshu _____”; PAHMA Storage Loc: W 2-Bascom-8