Figure

The Makonde were a matriarchal, agricultural society. Traditionally, it is thought, the sculpture of the Makonde was restricted to ceremonial and ritual goods. Shetani spirits or creatures, now seen in contemporary Makonde sculpture, were probably unknown before the advent of commercial art production in the mid-1950's. Tales of encounters with these rarely seen spirits or creatures were part of Makonde mythology and folklore and may have served as artistic inspiration for the pieces.

Commercial art.

Possible representation of ancestral mother, an important recurring theme in Makonde sculpture. Central image, due to creation myth; first man carved first woman from a tree. All of her children were ancestors of Makonde. These ancestors represented seated or folded.

Crouching female on a raised lozenge-shaped base all on rectangular base. Head, arms, and one foot are at a ninety degree angle to the rest of the body. Extremely elongated are arms raised over the head with the palms outspread. Long narrow necked vessel is balanced on the head between the arms. Eyes are closed. Figure wears a long-sleeved robe. Small pointed single breast. Smooth surface, excluding the hair and the sides of the sleeves which show thin etched lines.