Title:
Punu Fertility Statue
Object Name:
Figure, Statue, Punu
Other Name:
Figure, Maternity, Fertility
Place of Origin:
Punu, Gabon, Africa
Provenance:
Aboriginal Indigenous Art.
Punu statues often have protruding pursed lips, globular protruding eyes incised with a curve, high—domed foreheads, and characteristic rigid high coiffures reflecting the Punu women's hair styles. They often have an Oriental expression, but no such influence has been established. Many Punu masks can be recognized by raised diamond—shape scarification marks on the foreheads and temples. The scarification marks on the temples are thought to be associated either with a female ancestor, or with a southern sub—group of the Punu tribe. Black face—masks have exactly the same stylistic characteristics as the white masks, but they are believed to have a judiciary function and help identify sorcerers. The performances of the masks are nowadays intended primarily to entertain audiences on festive occasions. Only rarely do the masqueraders fulfill a ritual function of officiating at funerals, when they dance as embodiments of the ancestor spirits. In performances the dancers, wearing costumes of raffia or cotton fabric and animal pelts, move with amazing acrobatic agility on stilts up to six and a half feet in height.
Punu statues often have protruding pursed lips, globular protruding eyes incised with a curve, high—domed foreheads, and characteristic rigid high coiffures reflecting the Punu women's hair styles. They often have an Oriental expression, but no such influence has been established. Many Punu masks can be recognized by raised diamond—shape scarification marks on the foreheads and temples. The scarification marks on the temples are thought to be associated either with a female ancestor, or with a southern sub—group of the Punu tribe. Black face—masks have exactly the same stylistic characteristics as the white masks, but they are believed to have a judiciary function and help identify sorcerers. The performances of the masks are nowadays intended primarily to entertain audiences on festive occasions. Only rarely do the masqueraders fulfill a ritual function of officiating at funerals, when they dance as embodiments of the ancestor spirits. In performances the dancers, wearing costumes of raffia or cotton fabric and animal pelts, move with amazing acrobatic agility on stilts up to six and a half feet in height.
Description:
Small standing wooden female figure. Circular closed eyes, in concave orbits. Wedge—shaped nose over slightly protruding crescent—shaped mouth, which gives the appearance of grinning. Crescent—shaped ears, under three rowed coiffure, on top of head. Arms carved away from body, and re—connecting back into abdomen. Small breasts, short squat torso and legs. Dark brown patina covering entire surface area.
Collection:
Guy Mace Collection, (Turblex Company)
Material:
Wood W/Patina
Used:
Ritually Used
Technique:
Carving / Painting
Owned:
Art Department, MSSU
Accession#:
2015.2.89
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Front View
Front View - 2
Right Side View
Left Side View
Rear View
Front View
Front View - 2
Right Side View
Left Side View
Rear View