Standing male figure

Description

hardwood, blackish brown patina, sticky sacrificial patina, narrow rectangular facial plane with lowered eyes and remains of a beard causing a calm, nearly majestic expression, the symmetrical body built of geometrical forms, the elongated upper part of the body homogeneously enclosed by long arms, the legs sharply bent, in fragmentary condition: both legs underneath the knees, both hands, a part of the left breast and the most part of the beard missing, rep. (left thigh, a small part of the breast, presumably the buttock on the left), cracks, missing parts through insect caused damage on the left face half, on base;
the actual function of the figure cannot clearly be determined. Because of its large size (when adding the missing legs), the figure might belong to the type of the “dege dal nda”, the so-called “sculptures of the terrace”. They are taken out of storage for the funerals of rich men and dressed and displayed on the rooftop terrace of the deceased. For the rest of the time they were stored in the house of the “hogon”. They were a privilege of rich families. Because of the sticky sacrificial patina, present figure might as well belong to the type of the “vageu” figures. These figures were placed aside the body of important deceased clan members in order to absorb a good deal of their “nyama”, the spiritual forces of the dead. Afterwards the spiritually strengthened figure was returned to the shrine, where now sacrifices could be made to obtain and secure health and fecundity. Sacrificial liquids were poured on the figural sculptures, including the blood of chickens, sheep, and goats, millet porridge, mixtures of various fruit and plant juices etc. These sacrificial materials are vehicles for “nyama”, the vital force that determines a persons mental and physical well-being.

Comparing literature