Figures

Museum number:
5-15426a,b
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm210515426a@2cb
Alternate number:
B-2044a,b (previous number (Bascom’s number))
Accession number:
Acc.4471
Object count:
2
Description:
figures, a pair; pair of kneeling 'Elegba' figures, on self base; incised markings on faces; hands resting against thighs; blackened wood carvings; leather ring w/6 pendant strands of cowries attached to base; a) male; surmounted by triangle-shaped carving; double strand of red beads around neck; b) female; surmounted by blade-shaped carving; vertical crack on torso; strand of red beads around neck. H. of figures: a) 23 cm. b) 25 cm L. of cowrie strands: aver. 15-16 cm.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Africa
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Nigeria; Meko; Yoruba
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
1950
Materials:
Leather and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Context of use:
probably from an 'Eshu' shrine
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
cowrie strands, average— length 16 centimeters, a— height 23 centimeters, and b— height 25 centimeters
Comment:
Elegba = Eshu. Slide. PAHMA Storage Loc: W-18-8
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 4 titled Figures, accession number 5-15426a,b, described as figures, a pair; pair of kneeling 'Elegba' figures, on self base; incised markings on faces; hands resting against thighs; blackened wood carvings; leather ring w/6 pendant strands of cowries attached to base; a) male; surmounted by triangle-shaped carving; double strand of red beads around neck; b) female; surmounted by blade-shaped carving; vertical crack on torso; strand of red beads around neck. H. of figures: a) 23 cm. b) 25 cm L. of cowrie strands: aver. 15-16 cm.Hearst Museum object 2 of 4 titled Figures, accession number 5-15426a,b, described as figures, a pair; pair of kneeling 'Elegba' figures, on self base; incised markings on faces; hands resting against thighs; blackened wood carvings; leather ring w/6 pendant strands of cowries attached to base; a) male; surmounted by triangle-shaped carving; double strand of red beads around neck; b) female; surmounted by blade-shaped carving; vertical crack on torso; strand of red beads around neck. H. of figures: a) 23 cm. b) 25 cm L. of cowrie strands: aver. 15-16 cm.Hearst Museum object 3 of 4 titled Figures, accession number 5-15426a,b, described as figures, a pair; pair of kneeling 'Elegba' figures, on self base; incised markings on faces; hands resting against thighs; blackened wood carvings; leather ring w/6 pendant strands of cowries attached to base; a) male; surmounted by triangle-shaped carving; double strand of red beads around neck; b) female; surmounted by blade-shaped carving; vertical crack on torso; strand of red beads around neck. H. of figures: a) 23 cm. b) 25 cm L. of cowrie strands: aver. 15-16 cm.Hearst Museum object 4 of 4 titled Figures, accession number 5-15426a,b, described as figures, a pair; pair of kneeling 'Elegba' figures, on self base; incised markings on faces; hands resting against thighs; blackened wood carvings; leather ring w/6 pendant strands of cowries attached to base; a) male; surmounted by triangle-shaped carving; double strand of red beads around neck; b) female; surmounted by blade-shaped carving; vertical crack on torso; strand of red beads around neck. H. of figures: a) 23 cm. b) 25 cm L. of cowrie strands: aver. 15-16 cm.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Figures, accession number 5-15426a,b, described as figures, a pair; pair of kneeling 'Elegba' figures, on self base; incised markings on faces; hands resting against thighs; blackened wood carvings; leather ring w/6 pendant strands of cowries attached to base; a) male; surmounted by triangle-shaped carving; double strand of red beads around neck; b) female; surmounted by blade-shaped carving; vertical crack on torso; strand of red beads around neck. H. of figures: a) 23 cm. b) 25 cm L. of cowrie strands: aver. 15-16 cm.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Figures, accession number 5-15426a,b, described as figures, a pair; pair of kneeling 'Elegba' figures, on self base; incised markings on faces; hands resting against thighs; blackened wood carvings; leather ring w/6 pendant strands of cowries attached to base; a) male; surmounted by triangle-shaped carving; double strand of red beads around neck; b) female; surmounted by blade-shaped carving; vertical crack on torso; strand of red beads around neck. H. of figures: a) 23 cm. b) 25 cm L. of cowrie strands: aver. 15-16 cm.

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