Accession Number
1981/2.144

Title
Circumcision Figure?

Artist(s)

Object Creation Date
circa 1940

Medium & Support
carved and painted wood, metal teeth and raffia

Dimensions
44 1/16 in x 11 7/16 in x 9 7/16 in (112 cm x 29 cm x 24 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Avery Z. Eliscu

Label copy
This statue is used during a period of initiation into adulthood, which includes circumcision and instruction in lore and history lasting from a few days to three or four years. The image depicts a young boy undergoing initiation in the sacred grove (the "bush," or rainforest) of the Poro society. Associated with high status and power, Poro is a ceremonial title organization among the Bassa.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
figure

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
figures (representations)
men (male humans)
standing