Lomwe figurative sculptures are rare to find. This Lomwe female figure stands in an upright position, with her arms resting on her upper legs. Its carved concave face is a defining stylistic characteristic of Lomwe figures. An old fetish hole adorns the top of the figure’s head.
This Lomwe figure previously belonged to a private family in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and was field collected in Mozambique in the 1990’s. It exhibits similar tribal tattoo body markings to those found on a figure from the Museum fur Volkerkunde in Berlin. These Lomwe body markings are thought to be representative of high rank and status.
Estimated Period: First Half of 20th Century (1940’s)
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