Fertility Figure

Larger versions of these types of figures would be mounted at the entrance of Spirit Houses, and are closely related to origin myths.

Carved wood female fertility figure with an elaborately painted face. Figure is wearing a long grass skirt and has a heart-shaped face with protruding ears, a large nose, and open smiling mouth; the eyes are inset cowrie shells. Face is painted white with semi-circles, floral and curvilinear designs, and comma-shapes throughout, done in red; eyes and nostrils are bordered with small white triangles. Ears have two grass ties knotted through each; similar grass tie knotted through figure's nostrils. Carved with large breasts, flat buttocks and pronounced shoulder blades; genitals carved in relief and highlighted with red pigment. Her arms and legs spread straight out from her body; grass ties around wrists and ankles. Each limb has two decorative bands carved into them; bands consist of two ovals bordered by wide bands; done in brown, red, and white. Small hole drilled into back centre of head.