ancestor figure; figure (communication artefact)

Ancestor figure, female. Carved and painted wooden head with headdress, attached to the back of which is a construction of horizontal rods and a network of imitation Chinese coins with holes at their centre connected to one another by means of black thread. This represents the body. The rod representing the shoulders turns upwards at each end, with a yellow wool bobble attached at the extreme end. At each end of the row of coins immediately below this is a white bobble and red wool tassel. From the same rwo suspended at either side are three lengths consisting of two coins and a white bobble and red tassel. The traingular abdominal area forme3d oif linked coins has a circular mirror at the centre. Beneath this is a symbolic skirt also of artificial coins from which are suspended a row of white bobbles and yellow tassels and further down lengths consisting of artificioal coins, white bobbles and red tassels. There is a hook attached to the head at the back so that the figure can be suspended. The figure is distinguished from the male figure by gold painted ear plugs.

Collection Information

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