Standing female figure ·  Sierra Leone, Mende · ID: 3037015

Description

light wood, greyish brown patina with traces of black paint, rising from columnar legs, opening (cryptofetish), drilled holes in the area of the lower part of the body, iron ring around the hips, the broad body crowned by a proportionally small egg-shaped head without eyes, dam., cracks (partly filled with wooden splinters), missing parts (both foot tips), dam., chips, abrasion, base;
the rare figures of the Mende are always of female gender and they are called “minsereh”. In service of the “yassi” society they mediate between humans and spirits and were consulted for oracle.