Standing male figure

Description

wood, brown patina, red pigment remains, schematized forms, u-shaped leg zone, the palms turned upwards, head with flattened chin, simplified facial features and cheek scarifications, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage (area of the feet), cracks, slight traces of abrasion;
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”.