Description

Carving of a female figure standing on an oval-like base (part a). She stands with her feet shoulder width apart, hands at her hips; depicted wearing a grass skirt and assorted jewellery made of twisted fibre and circular shells(?). Her face has linear and curvilinear designs painted across it in white; eyes are inset cowrie shells. Hair is black, with a white band painted underneath. Large hornbill sitting on top of woman’s head; neck is extended with head tilted back. Head and neck of hornbill are yellow, rest of body is black; eyes are inset cowrie shells. A crocodile, balanced on its tail, supports the back of the female figure; painted black. Two snakes stretch from her shoulders and have their heads resting against the base; done in black with white and orange stripes. All animals have intricately carved features; hornbill has additional curvilinear designs. Top of base is a light orange; sides have a channel carved into them, with ovals carved in relief throughout. Donor tag attached to snake on right side of base. (Left wing has broken off hornbill, part b.)