Carving

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.

Purchased by the donor from Harvey Sobel in Hamilton, Ontario in 1974.

Commercial art.

Figure depicting three crouching humanoid figures and one partial face form an openwork lattice sculpture on an irregularly shaped base. Two of the figures are attached to the base. They are holding hands with their bodies facing inward with their knees and elbows bent, and their faces look outward. A third similar figure and just the face of a fourth are stacked above the two lower figures. The face consists only of a skeletal outline, eyeballs and elongated nose, and is the same size as the complete figures.