Zande figure
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1933.76.4
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] ?Bahr el Ghazal [River]
Cultural Group:
Zande
Date Made:
By 1909
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved , Burnt , Pyroengraved Pokerwork
Dimensions:
Max H = 286, head W = 69, th = 78; w across arms = 139.7, W hips = 71.3, th hips = 50.6 mm [RTS 15/12/2004].
Weight:
725.7 g
Other Owners:
Collector unknown, presumably purchased by James T. Hooper in England then sold to the PRM on 21st February 1933 [RTS 15/12/2004].
PRM Source:
James Thomas Hooper
Acquired:
Purchased 21st February 1933
Collected Date:
1909
Description:
Figure of a man, carved from a single piece of yellow wood (Pantone 729C), and standing with head and upper body turned slightly to his left and the rest of his body facing forwards.
The figure has an elongated head, with a tall ovoid hairstyle or hat that is flat at the apex, then has convex sides undercut at the base, where the neck begins, and ending at the front with a narrow bevelled edge that arches over to frame the top of the forehead.
This area has been divided into a series of vertical bands by lines burnt into the surface, with alternate bands and the front area being burnt black (Pantone black 7C).
The front crest area has been carved to a flat plane, in the centre of which is a hexagon above a crescent stand out in relief, with their upper surfaces left the natural yellow colour of the wood.
These probably imitate the Turkish or Arab star and crescent motif.
The face below is also elongated, with a high domed forehead and 2 ears carved on either side, rather higher up the head than normal; these have shallow circular depressions at their centres, and their upper rims have been burnt black.
The rest of the face has ovoid cheeks, burnt black on their flattened side edges, and a distinct chin.
They eyebrows are marked as 2 broad curving arcs, burnt black, while the eyes stand out as low relief lentoids with burnt circles at their centre, over a carefully carved nose with prominent bridge and flaring nostrils below.
The mouth also stands out from the surface of the face in a slight pout, with a horizontal line burnt across its centre.
The face has been carved to stand out slightly from the neck, which is a simpler cylinder undercut at top and base; this continues as the torso below. The neck is intersected by the shoulders, which stand out from the torso as a rectangular block with flattened outer edges, but following a sinuous curve that goes upward on the right side, ending in a long hand, palm outwards, held to the side of the head in salute, and downwards on the left, where the hand has been placed near the waist and attached to the torso by a narrow bar of wood. The wrist has been defined on both arms, but more markedly so on the left arm where it is deeply recessed; the hands are very broad, and have cuts burnt into their ends to represent 5 fingers each. A horizontal line has been burnt across the back of each hand at the base of these cuts. These arms have been partially burnt black - on their flat side edges, and in banded patterns across the arms defined by shallow incised lines; the hands and torso are left yellow. The figure has squat carinated hips and a simple rounded backside, with prominent genitals hanging down from the front; the figure is shown as circumcised and there is a shallow incised line across the base of the penis. It stands on squat bulging legs that end in large, wedge-shaped feet with 5 toes marked out by v-shaped cuts at their ends. The sides and the base of the feet have been flattened, allowing the figure to stand easily upright. The pelvic area and legs have been blackened; the feet are left in the natural yellow of the wood. The surface of the wood is covered in carving marks, in the form of various small facets; these are particularly clear on the underside of the feet where they have not been smoothed. It is complete, but there are cracks down the head and back and one arm. It has a weight of 725.7 grams, is 286 mm tall, 69 mm wide and 78 mm thick across the head; the arms measure 139.7 mm across and the hips are 71.3 mm wide and 50.6 mm thick.
The original collector of this object is not known, although it is said to have come from ‘on the Bahr el Ghazal’ which implies that it came from somewhere on the river, rather than from the province of that name. It became part of the collection of James T. Hooper in England, then was sold to the Pitt Rivers Museum on 21st February 1933.
Although no cultural attribution is given, the style of the object suggests that it is Zande; cf 1933.76.5, of similar workmanship although slightly different style, and 1932.30.14-15, similar figures that were collected by C.A. Willis. For similar types of figures, see W. Fagg, 1965, Tribes and Forms in African Art, p. 111 and E. Elisofon & W. Fagg, 1958 The Sculpture of Africa, figs 314-5, and E. Schildkrout & C.A. Keim, 1990, African Reflections, figs 11.8-9 (British Museum 1949.Af46.52-3, with very similar treatment of face).
This object is currently on display in the Court, case 150A.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
The face has been carved to stand out slightly from the neck, which is a simpler cylinder undercut at top and base; this continues as the torso below. The neck is intersected by the shoulders, which stand out from the torso as a rectangular block with flattened outer edges, but following a sinuous curve that goes upward on the right side, ending in a long hand, palm outwards, held to the side of the head in salute, and downwards on the left, where the hand has been placed near the waist and attached to the torso by a narrow bar of wood. The wrist has been defined on both arms, but more markedly so on the left arm where it is deeply recessed; the hands are very broad, and have cuts burnt into their ends to represent 5 fingers each. A horizontal line has been burnt across the back of each hand at the base of these cuts. These arms have been partially burnt black - on their flat side edges, and in banded patterns across the arms defined by shallow incised lines; the hands and torso are left yellow. The figure has squat carinated hips and a simple rounded backside, with prominent genitals hanging down from the front; the figure is shown as circumcised and there is a shallow incised line across the base of the penis. It stands on squat bulging legs that end in large, wedge-shaped feet with 5 toes marked out by v-shaped cuts at their ends. The sides and the base of the feet have been flattened, allowing the figure to stand easily upright. The pelvic area and legs have been blackened; the feet are left in the natural yellow of the wood. The surface of the wood is covered in carving marks, in the form of various small facets; these are particularly clear on the underside of the feet where they have not been smoothed. It is complete, but there are cracks down the head and back and one arm. It has a weight of 725.7 grams, is 286 mm tall, 69 mm wide and 78 mm thick across the head; the arms measure 139.7 mm across and the hips are 71.3 mm wide and 50.6 mm thick.
The original collector of this object is not known, although it is said to have come from ‘on the Bahr el Ghazal’ which implies that it came from somewhere on the river, rather than from the province of that name. It became part of the collection of James T. Hooper in England, then was sold to the Pitt Rivers Museum on 21st February 1933.
Although no cultural attribution is given, the style of the object suggests that it is Zande; cf 1933.76.5, of similar workmanship although slightly different style, and 1932.30.14-15, similar figures that were collected by C.A. Willis. For similar types of figures, see W. Fagg, 1965, Tribes and Forms in African Art, p. 111 and E. Elisofon & W. Fagg, 1958 The Sculpture of Africa, figs 314-5, and E. Schildkrout & C.A. Keim, 1990, African Reflections, figs 11.8-9 (British Museum 1949.Af46.52-3, with very similar treatment of face).
This object is currently on display in the Court, case 150A.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[BIV, p.
177] - 1933.
[insert] 76 [end insert]
MR J.T.
HOOPER
21.
Feb.
[insert] 4-5 [end insert] - [1 of] 2 carved wooden human figures with dark patches produced by burning, collected on the BAHR-EL-GAZAL, S.
SUDAN, in 1909.
£1-10-0 [total for items 1933.76.1-6] P[ai]d by cheque 21 Feb.
4-0-0
.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 28/1/2004].
Related Documents File [James Thomas Hooper, Catalogue of Ethnographical Material ] - The museum has a photocopy of Hooper's accession and dispersal records, which are bound as two volumes and kept in a separate box file. Items are arranged according to Hooper's own numbering system [RTS 21/11/2003].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - BAHR-EL-GAZAL, S. SUDAN, 1909. Pur. 21.2.1933 (Hooper) [rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 13/10/2004].
Written on object - BAHR-EL-GAZAL, S. SUDAN, 1909. Pres. 21.2.1909 [sic - should be 1933] (Hooper) [RTS 15/12/2004].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 28/1/2004].
Related Documents File [James Thomas Hooper, Catalogue of Ethnographical Material ] - The museum has a photocopy of Hooper's accession and dispersal records, which are bound as two volumes and kept in a separate box file. Items are arranged according to Hooper's own numbering system [RTS 21/11/2003].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - BAHR-EL-GAZAL, S. SUDAN, 1909. Pur. 21.2.1933 (Hooper) [rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 13/10/2004].
Written on object - BAHR-EL-GAZAL, S. SUDAN, 1909. Pres. 21.2.1909 [sic - should be 1933] (Hooper) [RTS 15/12/2004].
