Bangwa peoples, Cameroon
Late 19th to early 20th century
Wood, encrustation
88.9 x 26.7 x 16.5 cm (35 x 10 1/2 x 6 1/2 in.)
2005-6-179, gift of Walt Disney World Co., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (cat. no. 37)
More/Less Information
Typical of Bangwa portrait sculptures, this particular figure may represent a royal wife and a mother of twins. She is shown nude except for the carved representations of ivory jewelry, which are signs of her status as a royal wife. Her necklaces identify her as a mother of twins. Twins and their parents are shown special signs of respect, including the carving of figures in their honor. It is not unusual for a mother of twins to be depicted with only one child.
|
