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 dealer Harvey Sobel in Hamilton, Ontario in 1974.

Commercial art.

Makonde myth of creation, symbolizing woman's central role in society and beliefs, is represented by seated female, female ancestor, or first mother with suckling child.

Column of fourteen human and human-like figures. Three levels are discernible. At the bottom, the human head and shoulders serve as the base. Four human figures cling to and climb upwards from this head base towards the middle level where a human female figure sits on the head of the base figure suckling a large child on her right side. Three human figures climb around her. At the top level, three naked thin human-like figures are in contorted positions that form a circle. One holds a pipe in its mouth. A fourth figure emerges to the circle from the mesh of figures below. The figures of the lower two levels form a solid mass. All are tightly integrated facing in a forward direction. Incised on the human figures, there are skirt-like garments with crosshatched designs. Figures on the top level are spaced apart.