Standing ancestor figure · Nigeria, Mumuye · ID: 3033303
Harald & Ursula Suhr, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada / Germany (1984)
Description
wood, slightly encrusted greyish brown patina, remains of kaolin, typical form and posture, a stylized face with round ears (Mumuye women used to wear such wooden plugs in the ears), the eyes accentuated with kaolin, scarification marks, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion;
Mumuye figures are employed in a variety of contexts. They are associated with, among other things, rain-making, iron working, healing, initiations, warfare, and the dispensation of justice. They represent various ancestors and cultural heroes who are thought to be able to control the forces of nature and the affairs of man. And like many other Benue figures the sex is often indistinguishable.
The object Standing ancestor figure with the object ID 3033303 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 145 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,000.
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