Ancestor Figure
Item number Ie378 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
Item number Ie378 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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Tall human male figure with a rounded head, inflated stomach, prominent groin area, short arms and short legs. The head has an extra circle around it with small ear-like projections out each side, incised eyes and mouth. The figure is surrounded by birds. Extending over its head are two Byth’s hornbill heads which go up then the beaks point down. There are two other protruding bird heads appearing over the shoulder of the human. Between the legs of the human figure is another bird with its tail hanging down and its head facing upwards with its bird slightly ajar. All are painted in various stylized patterns in orange, yellow and white on a black ground. There is a necklace painted in white on the chest of the human figure.
Ancestor figures are sacred, serving as fertility figures for the people and for the yam crop. They are kept in men's ceremonial house.
Curved-bill birds, hornbills in this case, are 'totemic symbols' of clans and tribes.
ceremonial
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Ancestor figures are sacred, serving as fertility figures for the people and for the yam crop. They are kept in men's ceremonial house.
Curved-bill birds, hornbills in this case, are 'totemic symbols' of clans and tribes.
ceremonial
Tall human male figure with a rounded head, inflated stomach, prominent groin area, short arms and short legs. The head has an extra circle around it with small ear-like projections out each side, incised eyes and mouth. The figure is surrounded by birds. Extending over its head are two Byth’s hornbill heads which go up then the beaks point down. There are two other protruding bird heads appearing over the shoulder of the human. Between the legs of the human figure is another bird with its tail hanging down and its head facing upwards with its bird slightly ajar. All are painted in various stylized patterns in orange, yellow and white on a black ground. There is a necklace painted in white on the chest of the human figure.
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