This is the rating and price for Early 20Th C. African Namji Wood, Cloth & Beads Figure

Description : **Originally Listed At $500** West Africa, Nigeria-Cameroon border, Namji / Dowayo culture, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. An interesting hand-carved wooden figure with a stylized form, wrapped in a cloth garment with additional metal wire and beaded ornaments. The figure stands on two thick bowed legs, and the elongated body supports similarly shaped shoulders and downward pointed arms. The tall neck is topped by a small rounded head with simple features that include a crested coiffure and drilled eyes. The body is decorated with incised linear patterns along the shoulders and thighs. Around the body is a wrapped ankara style cloth with a green, abstract pattern. The waist is wrapped with a rattan cord strung with dozens of white glass beads. Metal wires are wrapped around the neck and ankles. These dolls were used for ritual purposes as either protective fetish figures or fertility figures for young women. Size: 9 W x 24.5 H (22.9 cm x 62.2 cm), 25.5 H (64.8 cm) on included custom stand. Dolls such as these were given to young Namji girls as a toy doll but also to prepare her for motherhood. In addition, caring for such dolls was believed to promote fertility. Often the dolls were worn strapped to the back like a real infant. Occasionally these dolls were given to infertile women in the hope that they would aid with pregnancy. They were commissioned from a carver for this purpose after which they were taken to the tribe’s diviner nganga, who performed rituals to inject force and respect (nkinda) into the doll. In this event, such dolls became fetish objects and were provided with food offerings and care so that their power would not wane. Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #136858
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Estimate (low-high) : 800 USD-1200 USD It's free to register now to view!

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