1971.31.4

Collection type

Object

Description

Carved wooden figure of a man [.1], holding a shield and spear [.2], an antelope on a pole [.3], and wearing a feather decorated head ornament [.4]. [JMC 22/2/2019]

Long description

Carved wooden figure of a man dressed for hunting. Made in several pieces which have been nailed together. The figure [1971.31.4 .1] is standing on a bilobed platform. He wears a waist ornament comprising a small leather strip for a belt, a large section of black fur, and three strips of white and brown fur at the front. The arms are bent at the elbow. Small strip of hide nailed to the earlobes hold tubular ear ornaments of bamboo, one of which is missing. The wooden eyes and teeth have been made separately and inserted. On his head is feather decorated head ornament [1971.31.4 .4]. In his right hand he holds shield and spear [1971.31.4 .2], while in his left hand he holds antelope on pole [1971.31.4 .3]. The spear is of carved wood with a cylindrical shaft and long, pointed, leaf-shaped spearhead. The shield comprises a lenticular sheet of hide covered with black fur, with a long cylindrical wooden grip. The shaft and grip are roughly painted black and have been nailed together. The antelope's feet are bound together with string and it is suspended from a carved wooden pole. The tongue protrudes from the mouth. Painted black. The feather decorated head ornament comprises a circular wooden base, decorated on top with light and dark feathers. A strap of twisted plant fibre is threaded through perforations in the wood and tied. A small wooden peg fits into a perforation in the top of the figure's head. [JC [OPS Move] 14/6/2017]

Geographical reference

Malawi

Africa > Eastern Africa > Malawi

Mozambique

Africa > Eastern Africa > Mozambique

Person

Field collector D.J.M. MacKenzie

PRM source D.J.M. MacKenzie

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1952

Date collected

circa 1952

Acquisition information

Donated: 1971

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Material Animal Hide Skin, Material Animal Fur Skin, Material Bamboo Plant, Material Metal, Material Pigment, Material Bird Feather, Process Incised, Process Carved, Process Nailed, Process Painted, Process Tied, Process Twisted, Process Perforated

Dimensions

Length: max 357 mm [.3], Height: max 410 mm [.1], Width: max 150 mm [.1], Width: max 112 mm [.2], Width: max 70 mm [.3], Depth: max 127 mm [.1], Depth: max 50 mm [.2], Depth: max 165 mm [.3], Height: max 300 mm [.2], Height: max 110 mm [.4], Diameter: max 41 mm [.4]

Object numbers

Accession number: 1971.31.4

Search terms: Model, Figure, Weapon, Hunting, Spear, Shield, Animal Figure, Hunting accessory