Skip to content
Pitt Rivers Museum

1958.11.2.394

Clay Mkaramo figure. Cylindrical body, with a flared circular base. Slight narrower section, defining the difference between the body and head. Two rounded protrusions, possibly representing arms or breasts, with black painted tips. Black painted hair. [BH [OPS Move] 19/5/2017]


1958.11.2.394

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

Terms and Conditions

If you wish to order a high-resolution image and/or licence its use for print or web publication, exhibition, film, promotional product or any other use, whether in the academic or commercial sector of any print run, then please visit photographic services.

Collection type
Object
Description
Clay Mkaramo figure. Cylindrical body, with a flared circular base. Slight narrower section, defining the difference between the body and head. Two rounded protrusions, possibly representing arms or breasts, with black painted tips. Black painted hair. [BH [OPS Move] 19/5/2017]
Long description
Mkaramo figure used to teach morals to girls in puberty rituals. [BH [OPS Move] 19/5/2017]
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
Depth: max 24 mm, Width: max 21 mm, Height: max 48 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1958.11.2.394 Other numbers: 468 497
Research and responses

Figurines from Tanganyika reads : ... [See 1958.11.2.1 for complete entry] ... [Retrospective number:] 497 [female symbol] 468. Penda. Girl should love her husband and not someone else’s husband.

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