Provenance: Donald Taitt, an abstract painter from Paris born in 1930 who collected African Art.
A Shrine figure from the Mambila people of Nigeria who live on the Mambilla plateau.
The Bamilike are matrilineal to a higher degree than most of their neighbours. Children become the property of the woman's family and are often cared for and adopted by the mother's brother. There are also secret masking societies, which contribute to community social order through initiation and public education.
Wooden statues are carved to represent the ancestors, Those are called tadep in nets strung on the front walls of small storage huts for ritual objects. The tadep are carved from a single piece of soft, easily-worked wood.
Some insect damages and parts missing due to heavy use and weather conditions.
- Object
- Shrine figure
- Indigenous object name
- Provenance Donald Taitt
- Ethnic group/ culture
- Mambila
- Region/ country
- Nigeria
- Material
- Wood
- Period
- 1st half 20th century
- Condition
- Vintage - used with visible signs of wear
- Sold with stand
- Yes
- Dimensions
- 22×10×9 cm