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Pitt Rivers Museum

1958.11.2.278

Clay Mkaramo figure. Cylindrical body, with a flat, circular base. Two extended protrusions, representing breasts or arms. Two black rings painted around the figure, one near the base, the other beneath the head, and connected by a vertical black line painted along the back. Top of head and tips of breasts both painted black. [IL [OPS Move] 11/5/2017]


1958.11.2.278

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Clay Mkaramo figure. Cylindrical body, with a flat, circular base. Two extended protrusions, representing breasts or arms. Two black rings painted around the figure, one near the base, the other beneath the head, and connected by a vertical black line painted along the back. Top of head and tips of breasts both painted black. [IL [OPS Move] 11/5/2017]
Long description
Mkaramo figure used to teach morals to girls in puberty rituals. [IL [OPS Move] 11/5/2017]
Cultural groups
Zigula
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1958
Date collected
From 1951-1958
Acquisition information
Donated: 1958
Materials and processes
Material Clay, Material Pigment, Process Moulded, Process Painted
Dimensions
Width: max 26 mm, Height: max 60 mm, Depth: max 24 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1958.11.2.278 Other numbers: 352 381
Research and responses

Figurines from Tanganyika reads : ... [See 1958.11.2.1 for complete entry] ... [Retrospective number:] 381 [female symbol] 352 Kilangale. Bad girl spends her time cleaning her body and not looking after her husband.

Search terms: Children and Childcare, Ritual and Ceremonial, Figure, Pottery, Ceremonial Object, Religious Object, Prayer Object