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.

Commercial art.

Serpents represent power, fertility or virility, and immortality.

Naturalistic human head with a beard in the centre of a free flowing composition. The face has bulging eyes, a long, thin nose, and an open mouth. Body flows above the head and free form limbs flow down towards the base. Left leg joins the body above the shoulder. Right arm swells at the base, becomes reptile-like creature which flows above the shoulder then turns to bite the buttocks. Reptile has bulging eyes and a vertical ridge down the middle of the nose. Reptile has one arm which touches the figure's left leg; 10 cm crack on left leg. Tool gouge on the left leg and on the reptile's leg.