Figure

The Makonde in the southeast of Tanzania and northeast of Mozambique are reputed to be the best carvers in East Africa. The high quality of their carved sculptures, the proof of which did not emerge until the late 19th century, is probably based on an old tradition. The material for carving used to be mainly fresh light, soft wood. When working for the art and souvenir market, they adapted to the desire for heavy, dark hardwood, which predominates in modern Makonde sculptures. The female figure is characterised by a loose, slightly animated pose. The asymmetrical position of the arms is rare in traditional East African sculpture. Also the slight sideways inclination of the head, the minimal rotation of the trunk and the upwardly inclined left toes show a remarkable degree of artistic freedom. The oval head with the protruding round ears, the small eyes situated close together and the long, pronounced nose correspond to tradition. It probably depicts a young girl, as there are no piercings in the ears or nose, nor is there a lip disc, which are characteristic for representations of women. Its function is unclear. In the art trade, sculptures of women are regarded as ancestor figures or images of the tribal mother. They may have played a role in initiation rites. The piece belongs to a typical colonial collection: between 1901 and 1909, Karl Sauer donated and sold numerous objects from diverse East African ethnic groups, hunting trophies, botanical specimens, minerals, shells, etc. to the museum. From 1898 onward, Sauer had worked his way up to the rank of District Commissioner in the administration of the German colonial empire in East Africa. Author: Eva Gerhards, Translation: Timothy Connell