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Double-tiered disk-shaped platforms that are surmounted by 6 (possibly young female) figures wearing pillbox style headgear, with bent knees and elbows, and hands with curled fingers; 3 of the identical figures are on either side of a large head with a helmet adorned with 4 spheres, and flanked below by mask-like faces with swirling hairdos. The head in the center, dominates the work and is inset between two vertical flanges. The bottom disk is perforated on the rim by 1/4 in holes all around. T…
Shrine sculpture
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Shrine sculpture

Maker Igbo Artist
Date19th century
Place of originNigeria, Africa
MediumWood, traces of white, black and red pigment
Dimensions37 × 19 × 19 in. (94 × 48.3 × 48.3 cm)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of Nicole and John Dintenfass
Object number2015.45.1
Collections
Visual DescriptionDouble-tiered disk-shaped platforms that are surmounted by 6 (possibly young female) figures wearing pillbox style headgear, with bent knees and elbows, and hands with curled fingers; 3 of the identical figures are on either side of a large head with a helmet adorned with 4 spheres, and flanked below by mask-like faces with swirling hairdos. The head in the center, dominates the work and is inset between two vertical flanges. The bottom disk is perforated on the rim by 1/4 in holes all around. There are some cracks, and wear on the surface. Some restoration was done, and some surfaces show heavy patination.
Wood helmet mask with female facial features, crested hairdo surmounted by bird on top of crenellated drum some wear of wood, and blackened surface worn off to reveal raw wood, or white pigment rubbed into some areas.
Mask (gonde)
Mende Artist
20th century
Disk shaped vessel with concave sides, supported by oval footing ring, on top of disk is a large horn-shaped boat with two figures on board, smaller figure in front, larger figure with flared hat that is spout for vessel, both figures straddling boat and paddling; grey ware with burnished black slip, on sides of vessel body are identical scenes (mold made?) of boating figures above, on water filled with fish, birds in air, surrounded by two rings of wave designs.
Bottle with Fishing Boat on Top
Chimu Artist
Late Intermediate period, 1200-1350
Round disk with relief carving on slightly raised perimeter. A hollow circle carved in the back. 16 carvings consist of 4 faces at cardinal points, with figures between them that are flanked by concentric circles. Traces of white pigment and patina visible on carved edge; powdered substance on top.
Tray for Ifá Divination (opon Ifá)
Olowe of Ise
after 1938
Round vessel with base and lid. Body of the vessel is decorated with a human face and incised scroll pattern that is repeated. The lid is decorated with spheres that serve as rattles when the piece is moved (there are small ceramic pieces inside some of the spheres). On the top of the lid a human is seated with legs crossed, arms down by their sides. The body of the figure is unclothed but the head is depicted with earspools and small headdress.
Vessel with lid
Maya Artist
c. 250- 500 CE
Sixteen birds divided into two groups, one in the upper and the other in the lower half of the print, some in water, some on land
Cormorants, Gannetts
Theodore Jasper
1895
Water pot
Water pot
Nupe Artist
20th century
Ovoid vessel with three shallow equally spaced flanges on either side. Chevron pattern with relief and incised motifs on belly; burnished, glossy surface with brown with black flares.
Vessel, 2013
Jabu Nala
2013
Stylized figure of rider on horse, wood stained with black pigment, some patination.
Equestrian Figure for Divination
Senufo Artist
late 20th century
Carinated torque with each end terminating in a disk with a central conical point projecting toward the opposite end; green patination.
Currency torque
Nigerian Artist
19th -20th century
A black and white composite photograph of a large, upright hand with a translucent nude woman superimposed over its palm and fingers. Below the hand, bright, glowing streaks of light ripple across a dark liquid surface.
Untitled
Jerry Uelsmann
1989
Colored inks on wove paper, an outstretched hand with thumb and fingers down, touching a surface. A face emerges from the wrist, eyes closed, drawn as shading in grey crosshatching; background in cream and peach color.
Les Bijoux Indiscrets
René Magritte
1963
Layers of white and colored factory made cloth panels with beaded borders sewn together onto one panel; beaded loop (black with green, white and yellow diamond pattern)affixed to top of back panel; beaded motifs of: geometric shapes, trees, cross, automobiles; white, black, yellow, red, turquoise and green beads, mostly seed beads; some beads 1/4" in diameter.
Wedding Cape (isikoti)
Kholekile Maxulu
c. 1960

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