Search Results

Title

Pwo Mask

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Chokwe Peoples Angola

Physical Description

A naturalistic rendering of a human face. Eyes carved in relief are convex and almond-shaped with narrow slits and are placed in round, concave eye sockets. Nose is slender at the bridge and rounded at the tip. The horizontal mouth is partially opened. Half rounded ears display metal loops. The "hair" is attached with a cloth headband high on forehead and is made from clay and red tukula powder. The face shows striated, scarifcation patters underneath and to the sides of the eyes; the forehead shows is a chingelyengelye cross motif. The patina is smooth and redish brown in color.

Century

19th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1890

Accession Number

2005/1.201

Medium and Support

wood, tukula powder, clay, string, metal, fur, snakeskin, cloth

relevance

rank 11.07902

Primary Keywords

ancestors

beauty

face masks

masquerades

Title

Male Figure (possibly mukuya figure repurposed as nkisi)

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Beembe Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

Wood-carved, standing figure with knees slightly flexed, prominent gentalia, naturalistic face, pointed beard and eyes inset with a white material, probably small ceramic fragments. The feet are missing. It wears a metal ring around its neck, and a string with metal fragments, glass beads and a small metal bell is attached across its chest, from arm to arm. A vertical crack on the front right side of the figure is filled with a gauzy material.

Century

19th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1870

Accession Number

2005/1.189

Medium and Support

wood, beads, metal, ceramic fragments

relevance

rank 10.95983

Primary Keywords

ancestors

figures (representations)

nkisi

occult power

Title

Egúngún headress (erin type)

Artist

Adugbologe Workshop of Abeokuta, Yoruba Peoples Nigeria

Physical Description

A massive, baroque, and busy wood-carved headdress with stylized face (showing classic Yoruba features) of bulging eyes with defined upper lids, long, straight, triangular nose, symmetrical scarification patterns consisting of three horizontal lines on each cheek, a short beard from ear to ear just underneath the lower lip. Two large “ears” protrude on either side of head and act as “scaffolding” for numerous attachments of symbolic content: birds and lions predominate, but also visible are amulets, wooden claws and beads, crosses, and an insignia shield of some kind. The ears terminate in two oblong mirrors with lions leaping off of each. Layers of pigment are visible, giving impression it has been repainted over time.

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1960

Accession Number

1985/1.183

Medium and Support

wood, mirrors, pigment, gourd, beads, metal

relevance

rank 10.95983

Primary Keywords

ancestors

birds

headdresses

lions

masquerades

spirits

Title

Seated Male Figure

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Yombe Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo

Physical Description

Small, carved male figure, seated atop a block, with legs crossed. The naturalism with which the expressive face is carved, the high crested coiffure (or chiefly cap?) and the progressive foreshortening of the body show the importance given to the head in Yombe aesthetics. The figure's eyes are mirrored glass, and the upper body, face and head are studded with brass tacks. A slight vertical crack can be seen at the figure's sternum.

The Yombe figure was identified for UMMA by Allen Roberts and Mary (Polly) Nooter Roberts. There was a discrepency regarding the dating of the piece: the export paperwork said "circa 1830", but the dealer's catalogue said early 19th c. When asked to help resolve the dating, Polly Nooter Roberts replied: "As for the Yombe figure, I can tell you with certainty that it is NOT early 20th century, and is definitely from the 19th century, if not earlier. I cannot confirm the 1830 date, but I would be more inclined to believe that than the early 20th century. So, I think you can confidently say 19th century, and perhaps you can go ahead and use the paperwork that says 1830 since that was supplied with it." See e-mail to Carole McNamara, 1/12/00.

Century

19th century

Object Creation Date

1825-1875

Accession Number

1999/1.94

Medium and Support

wood, brass tacks, glass

relevance

rank 10.95983

Primary Keywords

ancestors

figures (representations)

males, human

seated

Title

Female Ancestor Figure

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Mali, Dogon

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

1900-1971

Accession Number

1971/2.24

Medium and Support

carved wood, patination, blood, millet, egg shell

relevance

rank 10.72899

Primary Keywords

ancestor figures

ancestors

females

figurines

standing

statues

women

Title

Ancestral Shrine Figure (Male)

Artist

African, Nigeria, Ibo

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1940

Accession Number

1985/1.87

Medium and Support

carved wood

relevance

rank 9.87352

Primary Keywords

ancestor figures

ancestors

males

men

nudes

reliquary figures

standing

Title

Ancestral Shrine Figure (Female)

Artist

African, Nigeria, Ibo

Century

20th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1940

Accession Number

1981/2.142

Medium and Support

carved inoko wood and kaolin

relevance

rank 9.85796

Primary Keywords

ancestor figures

ancestors

carvings

females

figures (representations)

nudes

shrines

woodwork

Title

Sculpture for Jo or Gwa Society

Artist

Artist Unknown, African, Mali, Bamana

Century

Probably 20th century

Object Creation Date

20th century

Accession Number

1971/2.16

Medium and Support

carved wood

relevance

rank 9.82483

Primary Keywords

ancestor figures

ancestors

figures (representations)

standing

woodwork