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Highly-stylized divination instrument composed of a large head and neck mounted on top of two bowed legs with feet resting on a dome-shaped pedestal. The face is of typical form with down-turned closed eyes, a wide nose, a large smiling mouth with carved teeth, and a square chin simulating a beard. The object is coated with a mixture of kaolin and palm oil, which is discolored and worn. Additional decoration includes neck beads and painted-over fiber cord.
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Face mask with fiber and cloth hood (rigid). The mask showsan incised coiffure and incised facial scarification. It shows half-moon-shaped ears a wide nose and a horizontal figure eight-shaped mouth with carved teeth. The large coffee-bean-shaped eyes are coated with kaolin. The mask is carved from hardwood and is stained and patinated.
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Face mask of oblong shape with large protruding, circular ears. The mask has a domed forehead, rectangle-shaped eyes, a long-dominant nose, and a large open mouth showing animal teeth. The mask is painted with a mixture of kaolin and palm oil and is accented with large geometric areas of brown-black pigment.
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A hat is worn by senior members of the Bwami society. It is constructed from wood and fibers and is covered with cowrie shells. There is a hanging superstructure made from fibers. Additional decorations include a chin strap made from fiber and covered with buttons, multi-colored beads, and nut pods.
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Standing female figure of the Bwami society with a large head, long torso with a vertical line of notches on both sides (front and back), prominent female genitalia, no arms but legs with large box-like feet. The face is heart-shaped with coffee bean-shaped eyes, a naturalistic nose, and a small slit-like mouth. A large hole has been drilled on the neck, below the head. The figure is carved from dense hardwood, is stained a warm honey color, and is highly patinated. The face shows areas of old kaolin.
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Face mask of oval form with an incised coiffure and an incised design on the forehead. The mask which is used in circumcision rites has small protruding horizontal ears and narrow slanted eyes; the nose is long and is of simple form, and the mask shows a small open mouth. It is stained dark brown and has a glossy patina, and shows signs of great wear.
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Face mask of flat form with almond-shaped eyes, not ear, along with the nose, and a large open mouth with simulated teeth. The lower part of the face has a stepped-down plane. The mask is stained and patinated and is covered with brown and white paint splotches.
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Standing male figure of highly-stylized form with cowrie shell eyes. This ancestor figure, which shows strong influence from the Hemba and Kusu, has an elaborate coiffure, the outline of a beard, cubistic arms and torso, and heavy legs and feet. It is carved from dense hardwood and shows a polished, dark surface.
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Long iron knife with a hardwood handle wrapped with copper wire and a hilt in the form of a long human head with a domed headpiece, realistic facial features, and scarification on the forehead and nose. The handle and terminal are stained and highly patinated. The iron blade is extremely old.
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Well-carved ceremonial spoon with an open-work stem or shaft and a terminal in the form of a head with an elaborate coiffure. The face shows almond eyes, an open mouth, and scarification on the cheeks and forehead. It is carved from hardwood, is stained, and highly patinated.
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Small simian-form mask known as "soko muntu," which is worn with an elaborate costume during funeral rites and celebrations. Mask has a large crescent-shaped mouth, a long nose, and heavy-lidded eyes. It is carved from hardwood and is coated with a crusty surface.
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Face mask of oval form with a simple cap/hat and nondescript ears. The mask has small rectangular eyes a long flat nose and a large open mouth showing long teeth; it has perforated scarification along with eyebrows, nose, and cheeks and has deeply-cut scarification along the lower face and chin. The mask is carved from hardwood, stained and patinated, and coated with red-brown clay.
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Face mask of oval form with multi-perforations on two sides and a raised H-shaped panel in the center. This rare mask is worn by an executioner or "Kumi" during circumcision rituals and funerals of the Lilwa society. The side areas are painted with a mixture of kaolin and palm oil and the middle or center section is stained a dark brown and is highly patinated.
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A fertility doll is composed of a head with a highly-stylized coiffure, a naturalistic face, a long neck, and a long torso ending in a flared bottom. The torso has arms and hands, small breasts, and an umbilicus. The doll is stained, worn, patinated, and mounted on a custom base.
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Rare soft mask in the form of a fowl head including a comb beak, etc. The mask is made of course fabric, is covered with multi-colored small beads, and has a neck/collar made of feathers. There are strips of fabric used for fastening the mask.
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Long narrow mask with a long thin nose, simple round eyes, and an open mouth. The lower portion of the mask which is beveled includes the mouth. The entire mask is coated with a mixture of kaolin and palm oil.
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Figural fly whisk consisting of a seated female terminal, a handle wrapped with copper wire and organic material, and an animal fur whisk. The terminal is a well-carved seated female with a traditional coiffure, natural facial features, long pointed breasts, and abdominal scarification.
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The small figure is seated on the edge of a small mask. The figure has an ornate coiffure and a belt. The figure which is probably used in divination is stained and highly patinated and is mounted on a dome-shaped base affixed to a custom base.
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Face mask of flat form with a long flat nose, rectangle-shaped eyes, and a large open mouth showing carved teeth. A triangle area on the forehead is painted red and the rest of the mask is painted with kaolin and is decorated with red and black X marks.
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The initiation mask is known as "mambela" with triangle-shaped eyes, forward carved ears, a large nose, an open mouth, and a prominent chin/jaw. The mask which is derived from and related to the Lega tribe is coated with a mixture of kaolin and palm oil and shows scarification on the forehead and nose. Also, there are areas of wear and abrasion on the nose, forehead, and chin.
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A large, carve chameleon with a large head and the large, curled tail is used in ritual ceremonies. The head shows concentric circles with an eye in the middle and two nostril holes. The body and the tail are covered with small holes or perforations. The object is stained and patinated.
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A standing fetish figure is known as "biteke." The figure has a large hat, a beard, and incised vertical facial scarification. There are no visible arms and the body is wrapped with a fetish bundle consisting of fetish or magical material. The body and hat are stained and patinated.
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A small caryatid fetish figure holds an altar. The figure has a large head closed eyes figure-eight shaped mouth and a beard. The body shows small breasts, a distended abdomen, and short legs. The body is partially wrapped with a heavy cord as well as a string that holds two beads and shows areas of a tarlike resin.
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A long, thin fetish object is composed of three heads and partial bodies. The faces on the heads are well-carved and the object comes to a point; it is stained and highly patinated.
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A fetish figure with upswept coiffure showing a hole for fetish materials, diamond-shaped eyes, and a large open mouth showing teeth, as well as a long-pointed jaw. The body shows arms and hands held against a distended abdomen with a prominent umbilicus, a reptile in skirt held on with a cord, which also contains a small wood cylinder, and short legs with very large feet standing on a mound-like base. The figure is stained and patinated.