The doll's face displays a pair of white beaded eyes, and a small nose and mouth have been delineated into the surface of the calabash. The hair of the doll is represented by strands of red, yellow, blue and white glass beads attached to the top of the gourd. Unusually, a woven fibre ring has been attached to the base of the doll, and rare transparent red beads - which are not often found in this region - appear in the strands of beads adorning the body of the doll.
The piece has a lovely feel to it, exhibiting a very smooth and worn surface patina. Calabash dolls such as this were kept and cherished as dolls from various cultures in western Tanzania, namely the Nyamwezi and the Fipa, whilst the practise of traditionally creating and keeping dolls from tribal use can be found from Southern Sudan running down the Southern Africa.
Estimated Period. Mid-20th Century
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