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A figure with a large head circular ears, protruding eyes, a large prominent umbilicus, and short legs. The figure is coated with an encrusted surface and appears quite old.
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A standing female figure with ornate, carved coiffure shows atop-hole for fetish material. This beautiful well-carved face shows raised scarification on the forehead, temples, and lower face. An encrusted cord circles the neck. The body has a long torso and short legs; breasts and genitalia are prominent. The object is carved from hardwood, is stained, and is highly patinated.
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A thumb piano has a rectangular form known as "sanza" with iron keys and numerous iron and aluminum inserts on the face. Piano shows tar and resin repairs along sides and incised designs on both front and back.
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A divination object is in the form of a head and long torso. The head shows a small cap, a heart-shaped face, protruding eyes, and a wide-open mouth. The carved torso shows breasts and prominent umbilicus and ends in a knob-like protrusion. The figure is coated with palm oil and kaolin.
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A standing female figure is with a long, pointed head, broad face,small ears, protruding eyes, and a thick neck. The body, which shows breasts and female genitalia, is of normal proportions. The entire figure is covered with vertical, incised grooves and a dull encrusted patina; there are traces of white kaolin. The figure is mounted on a custom base.
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A round, deep mask with simple round eyes, a triangle-shaped mouth, and a large bulbous nose that extends over the mouth. The upper part of the mask has a light brown surface and the lower part has a darker brown-black surface with a pattern of red and white color dots.
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An unusual, stylized face mask with ears mounted on the forehead, a wide flat nose, angular slit-eyes, an open mouth showing carved teeth, and incised scarification on the brow and nose. The mask is patinated and coated with brown paint and shows an area of kaolin and palm oil around the eyes, as well as splotches all over.
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A "lukasa" divination and memory board surmounted by two well-carved heads with ornate coiffures and strong typical facial features. The board which has a border that incised designs shows a large raised "kifwebe" mask surrounded by numerous raised objects including a house, a tree chicken, tools, a sun, stars and a bow and arrows. The entire board is stained brown and shows a lot of wear.
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Heddle pulleys were used on a narrow-stripped loom to aid in the separation of threads while weaving. What is interesting about the heddle pulleys is their variety of designs. Several have figures carved above the pulley such as animals, human masks, and abstract designs. This artistic characteristic is purely for aesthetics as they have no effect on the functionality of the pulley, which reiterates how important visual design was to the African culture. Progress of human imagination. This shows a progression towards imagination and abstraction.
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Heddle pulleys were used on a narrow stripped loom to aid in the separation of threads while weaving. What is interesting about the heddle pulleys is their variety of designs. Several have figures carved above the pulley such as animals, human masks, and abstract designs. This artistic characteristic is purely for aesthetics as they have no effect on the functionality of the pulley, which reiterates how important visual design was to the African culture. This pulley has a wide top with ridges on the outer rim. This shows a progression towards imagination and abstraction.
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Heddle pulleys were used on a narrow stripped loom to aid in the separation of threads while weaving. What is interesting about the heddle pulleys is their variety of designs. Several have figures carved above the pulley such as animals, human masks, and abstract designs. This artistic characteristic is purely for aesthetics as they have no effect on the functionality of the pulley, which reiterates how important visual design was to the African culture. Hornbill birds are a common theme among Senufo pulleys. The hornbill is characterized by its long and narrow bill. To the Senufo, hornbills are linked to the creation of the world. In addition to this, they show a strong dedication to raising their chicks, which become an appropriate metaphor for those in the community.
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Headrests were used in the African culture to support the head and protect intricate hairstyles during sleep. While these hairstyles were considered an image of beauty, they also revealed someone's rank and social identity in the community. In other parts of Africa, headrests are associated with dreams and divination, but in Eastern Africa, they are solely used for functional purposes. The Kambata headrests are carved with patterns such as chevrons and bands of straight lines.
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Headrests were used in the African culture to support the head and protect intricate hairstyles during sleep. While these hairstyles were considered an image of beauty, they also revealed someone's rank and social identity in the community. In other parts of Africa, headrests are associated with dreams and divination, but in Eastern Africa, they are solely used for functional purposes. The Kambata headrests are carved with patterns such as chevrons and bands of straight lines.
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A ceremonial knife used in funerals or buried with the body. This piece has a leather handle with brass decoration on the oneside of the blade and hatching on the other. There is a carved wooden head on the end of the handle and the figure has large deep-set eyes, an open mouth, and a triangular nose, which are all characteristics of the Yoruba artistic style.
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This statue depicts a Baule man dressed in European attire as a result of colonialism. It has also been argued that these figures are a criticism of the Europeans and how they oppressive they were to the Africans. The man is dressed in European clothing which tells the viewer that he has been colonized by a European nation. He wears white shorts and a blue collared shirt.
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The Kota placed these reliquary figures in baskets that carried the bones of their ancestors, believing that these ancestors' powers existed beyond death and that the figures were protecting them. The image of the reliquary figure protects the relics by reminding people of their power.
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The Kota placed these reliquary figures in baskets that carried the bones of their ancestors, believing that these ancestors' powers existed beyond death and that the figures were protecting them. The image of the reliquary figure protects the relics by reminding people of their power.
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In African art, a repetitive theme is a relationship between mother and child. For the Yoruba, maternity figures were placed on shrines and altars to ask their ancestors to grace them with children or to thank them for already giving them this gift. The woman is sitting down in a stable stance while nursing her child, signifying her nurturing role as a mother. Ideals of beauty are seen in her large head, muscular physiognomy, and large feet. Specific Yoruba ideals of beauty are seen in the scarification of both cheeks and her agogo (cockscomb) hairstyle, which is tinged with blue pigment.
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Animal masks, known as "ekuk," are used during ceremonies of the Bwete cult, a social association among the Kwele peoples. Kwele is associated with the Bwete, which maintains social order. Masks are used during initiation and for mourning. The masks are used in morning and afternoon sessions to lead the villagers in dancing, enlivening the occasion with their beauty, movements, and suggestions of power. The heart-shaped face and curved horns refer to compassionate forest spirits, recalling images of rams or antelopes, while the white kaolin is used to represent light and clarity, which are used to fight against evil.
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Function: Lukasa divination and memory board surmounted by two
well-carved heads with ornate coiffures and strong typical
facial features. The board which has a boarder of incised
designs, shows a large raised kifwebe mask surrounded by
numerous raised objects including a house, tree chicken,
tools, a sun, stars and a bow and arrows. The entire board is
stained brown and shows a lots of wear.
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This mask is worn as part of a dance and there are holes along the outer edges of the mask in which plant fiber cord is put through them and tied at the ends. This mask is very similar to the Punu Mukudj mask in that they have similar eyes, noses and lips, and pigments. However, it is actually a variation of the Mukudj. The differences are in the large coiffure. In addition to this, the shape of the slanted eyes mimics the same bowing shape of the coiffure above.
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This mask is used in a performance called "mukudj," in which males use stilts while dancing and doing acrobats. Originally these dancers take place at funerals or initiations, but today
they're mainly done for entertainment purposes.
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Function: Among the Kwele people, there is a social association known as the Bwete, who control social order. Within this group, there are ceremonies that involve the use of animal masks either as part of initiation or mourning purposes. During these services, the masks are used to lead people in dance.
Iconography: The heart-shaped face and full-circle horns refer to compassionate forest spirits, while the white kaolin is used to represent light and clarity, which are used to fight against evil.
Bibliography: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.8/ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/312180
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Either worn or shown during private ceremonies, the mask was a reminder of Lega values. In addition to this, the mask could be fastened to poles, held during a dance, or draped over the shoulder. To the Lega people, the mask represented a higher level of teaching within the Bwami association.