Carved from wood, this small Kwere whistle depicts a female with both arms resting on her stomach. The cut-out form of the whistle with holes on each side wonderfully mirrors the shape of the figure's legs, and a series of fine geometric designs decorate the surface of the figure in horizontal bands.
The whistle has been further embellished with old glass beads, with mainly white beads adorning the neck of the figure, and a strand of predominantly pink beads looped through a hole at the top. As a result of touching and handling over time, the surface of the piece exhibits a worn surface patina.
Estimated period: Mid-20th Century
Height: 8cm
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