Accession Number
2005/1.185

Title
Figure

Artist(s)
Yombe

Artist Nationality
Yombe (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1860

Medium & Support
wood and resin

Dimensions
6 5/16 in x 2 3/16 in x 2 3/8 in (16 cm x 5.6 cm x 6 cm);6 5/16 in x 2 3/16 in x 2 3/8 in (16 cm x 5.6 cm x 6 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern

Subject matter
The headdress and pose of the figure suggest that this is a depiction of a chief or person of high status. He is chewing the munkwiza root, a local hallucinogenic creeper whereof it is said that the juice was used to test suspected witches. 

Physical Description
Kneeling human figure on top of a round, hollowed out base, suggesting that this may have been the top of a staff or flywhisk. The sculpture holds one hand on his thigh, while he is chewing on a munkwiza root with the other. 

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
chieftains
symbols of office or status
witchcraft