Standing female figure ·  Nigeria, Montol · ID: 3036825

Description

wood, slightly encrusted matt patina, polychrome paint, small waist in contrast to extremely broad shoulders, min. dam., small missing parts, cracks, traces of insect caused damage, base;
the Montol live to the north of the Benue and south of the Jos Plateau in a very rugged terrain. Their statues were kept in little round stone houses with a thatched roof (“dodo”) formerly decorated with trophy skulls. These houses were reserved for purposes of worship, out of sight of women and children. They were used to pass sentence after due deliberation, and were also employed in divination rituals organized to find the cause of an illness or to find a cure. The figures belong to a secret male society called “komtin”.