Two fertility dolls "mwana hiti" ·  Tanzania, Zaramo · ID: 3032279

Description

wood, brown patina, poker work, 2 strings of glass beads, typical abstract form with “split” crested coiffure, drilled holes, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
Zaramo female initiates keep such figures during their period of seclusion and coming out ceremonies. After the ceremony the young women wear the “mwana hiti” around the neck or hold it in her hands. The doll is a kind of substitute child, until the woman will have a “real” one.

The object Two fertility dolls “mwana hiti” with the object ID 3032279 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 266 achieved a sales price of EUR 300.

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