Female puppet ·  Nigeria, Ogoni · ID: 3034412

Description

wood, polychrome paint, cloth, with hinged jaw, holding a child diagonal in front of the body, probably there once was a cloth bonnet attached on the backside (small holes), fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion;
the Ogoni borrowed the art of puppetry from the Ibibio and adapted it to fit preexisting patterns of social criticism. This puppet probably depicts a young girl going through the initiation process. During this period adolescent females are spoilt and fed abundantly to enhance their appearance and assure their health and fertility.

The object Female puppet with the object ID 3034412 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 356.

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