Figurine, Doll, D88.166

Wooden full figure (female?). Carved from single piece of light weight and light colour wood. Head has simple carved hairdo with extending above forehead, down back of head, and down either side of face covering area of ears. Hair is painted/inked black. Facial features include slightly carved brows and eyelids with faint horizontal slits denoting eyes. Eyes, lids, and brows have the same black paint/ink. Nose is carved as are lips and mouth. Lips have a faint hint of light orange colour. A single black dot has been applied to each cheek. Also a small double black mark appears above right eye. Possibly this is unintended. Chin is carved extending back to neck. Base of neck sits on slight shoulders with minimal arm extensions facing forward. Four minimal fingers are carved on top of each arm appendage with heel and upper part of hands painted/inked black and facing forward. Belly is emphasized with a protrusion - umbilical hernia - common in both figures and peoples of West Africa. Hernia has double half circle in black over top with 5 dots between half circles. Possibly this is to suggest a belt buckle. Half circles meet a double black horizontal belt which encircles the body (though not extending completely around body) above waist. 9 black dots are between the belt lines on right side and 6 dots on left side. Two belt like structures are carved the circumference of the body extending over the tops of thighs and over the buttocks. Diagonal parallel red lines are painted on each belt structure the circumference of the figure. Mid-thigh a series of horizontal black dots (4 or right thigh and 6 on left) appear at about knee level. Two parallel black lines slightly lower with 5 black dots between the lines on each leg. There are faint reddish dots on the right leg between the black dots. The black umbilical belt and the lower red and then black dots & lines could suggest a possible skirt or body covering. Lower belly and upper thighs are painted/inked black extending the circumference of the figure, suggesting perhaps a garment, pair of shorts? Buttocks are slightly emphasized. From top of thighs in front and immediately below buttocks the wood is incised growing more deeply the farther down the legs until at about the knees the legs are separated extending down to include separated feet. Toes are minimally carved and painted/inked black in front. Faint colouring of reddish painted/inked areas appear more to be from fading as opposed to wear. Over all impression is of somewhat minimalist carving of human figure having endured little or no use.

Wood with paint/ink/wash(?) Possibly child's play doll? Wooden full figure (female?). Carved from single piece of light weight and light colour wood. Head has simple carved hairdo with extending above forehead, down back of head, and down either side of face covering area of ears. Hair is painted/inked black. Facial features include slightly carved brows and eyelids with faint horizontal slits denoting eyes. Eyes, lids, and brows have the same black paint/ink. Nose is carved as are lips and mouth. Lips have a faint hint of light orange colour. A single black dot has been applied to each cheek. Also a small double black mark appears above right eye. Possibly this is unintended. Chin is carved extending back to neck. Base of neck sits on slight shoulders with minimal arm extensions facing forward. Four minimal fingers are carved on top of each arm appendage with heel and upper part of hands painted/inked black and facing forward. Belly is emphasized with a protrusion - umbilical hernia - common in both figures and peoples of West Africa. Hernia has double half circle in black over top with 5 dots between half circles. Possibly this is to suggest a belt buckle. Half circles meet a double black horizontal belt which encircles the body (though not extending completely around body) above waist. 9 black dots are between the belt lines on right side and 6 dots on left side. Two belt like structures are carved the circumference of the body extending over the tops of thighs and over the buttocks. Diagonal parallel red lines are painted on each belt structure the circumference of the figure. Mid-thigh a series of horizontal black dots (4 or right thigh and 6 on left) appear at about knee level. Two parallel black lines slightly lower with 5 black dots between the lines on each leg. There are faint reddish dots on the right leg between the black dots. The black umbilical belt and the lower red and then black dots & lines could suggest a possible skirt or body covering. Lower belly and upper thighs are painted/inked black extending the circumference of the figure, suggesting perhaps a garment, pair of shorts? Buttocks are slightly emphasized. From top of thighs in front and immediately below buttocks the wood is incised growing more deeply the farther down the legs until at about the knees the legs are separated extending down to include separated feet. Toes are minimally carved and painted/inked black in front. Faint colouring of reddish painted/inked areas appear more to be from fading as opposed to wear. Over all impression is of somewhat minimalist carving of human figure having endured little or no use. Overall length = 309mm. Width of: head (across Hair left to right.) = 50.9mm across shoulders = 44.2mm , across buttocks = 60.6mm , across feet at middle of feet = 49.7mm. Same measurements front to back: brow to back of head = 42.4mm , chest to back = 33mm , buttocks = 53mm , feet = 38.3mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Donated

Locality Nigeria