Female figure · Nigeria, Eket · ID: 3040692
not available anymore
Provenance
Roger F. Azar, Paris, FranceDrouot, Paris, 19 April 2002, lot 151
Size
H: 31 cm
H: 12.2 inch
Description
wood, polychrome paint, rising from a cuboid base, orginally provided with movable arms (now missing), min. dam., small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, base;
there are various theories about the usage of such figures: they might have been used for the puppet theatre “akan”, but they might as well have been placed on the shrine of a chief’s memorial “ngwomo”. Finally Eket figures were actually used as headdresses, danced in honour of the earth deities. They were more than likely also tutelary deities concerned with the health and prosperity of the people.
Publications
Neyt, Francois, L'Art Eket, Collection Azar, Paris 1979, p. 8, ill. 8AHDRC: 0090277