Figure, Montol; Nigeria
Wood, traces of pigment; H. 23 1/4"
Montol figural carving is associated
with the Komtin Society and used in curing
rites. This figure, with its forward pushing shoulders
and arms over the torso, is primal; its simple expressive
face is made of tiny apertures that give it a whistling
appearance. This particular example is also rather
large with regards to the known corpus of traditional
Montol figural carvings and far more expressive
than most.
