The piece, modelled in a single block, is the work of the Qua ethnic group and was used in funeral rituals for the purpose of collecting the spiritual essence of the deceased. It presents small orfices in the head, which is finished off with a high, semicircular hairstyle, decorated with diagonal lines and hollow in the central part. The figure is adorned with a necklace with a kind of bead in the centre and spiral carrings. But the most striking aspect is the rich ornamentation on the body of the vessel. The front of the upper half is decorated with pointed arrowheads and concentric circles. On the upper part of the neck and covering the face, however, are lines and geometrics forms in high relief.
Interested in Natural history?
Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.