Large Makonde Sculpture

Large Makonde Sculpture. Circa 1950. There are three figures: the largest figure is female with a distorted face and large pointed ears; the two smaller figures are heads with distinctive facial features; the legs and arms with fingered hands are thin and elongated and are placed in a distorted manner on the sculpture. The sculpture is of the African Makonde people and is referred to as a Shetani wood carving. The African Makonde people are originally from Southern Tanzania and Northern Mozambique and have a small presence in Kenya. Shetani style wood carvings ("devil" in Swahili} are expressions of Makonde mythology and spirits. This style uses the appearance of other worldly physical traits, such as large distorted facial or body features, and sometimes animals to signify the spirit realm. The essence of Shetani is thought to take five forms: human, mammal, fish, bird and reptile - this sculpture is the human and animal form. In some sculptures, there are also culturally significant symbols, such as a mother's breasts or calabashes, used to carry water. Dimensions: 14cm x 14cm x 67cm.