Standing figure

Description

ivory, honey brown patina, remains of pigments, in bas-relief carved with just one arm (right hand side), min. dam., cracks, small missing parts (back of the head), slight traces of abrasion;
such figures are manipulated in diverse ways during rituals, being arranged in configurations (including placement facing in different directions) or held during dancing. The ivory may be rubbed with oil or perfume, or else polished with sandpaper, producing a powder that may be used as a medicine. The significance of these figures can only be judged through knowledge of their use in their original ritual context, which may change with the ritual in which they are employed. They may act as signifiers of rank, marks of identity, or commemorations of ancestors.

Comparing literature