**Originally Listed At $400**

West Africa, Nigeria, Wurkun people, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A large wooden anthropomorphic figure known as a wundul with stylized features adorned with fiber tassels, wood beads, and vegetal strips. The abstract body has a conical foot that supports the barrel-shaped torso, with a pronounced belly button. Two deep grooves indicate arms, and the long neck is covered with many layers of knotted and twisted grass and leaf strips. A cord strung with over two dozen small red beads is tied to the neck as well. The face is narrow with simple features; incisions for mouth, drilled holes for nostrils, and brass rivets attached as the eyes. A large fin-shaped headdress surmounts the figure, with a red and black fiber tassels attached through the drilled perforations. Wundul figures represented ancestors and were used in a ceremonial context as protectors. Size: 5.75" L x 3.75" W x 15.75" H (14.6 cm x 9.5 cm x 40 cm); 24.25" H (61.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, purchased from Hammill Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, USA in 2014

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#162904

Fraying and discoloration to fiber tassels. Stable pressure fissure across body and head. Abrasions and nicks to high-pointed areas. Dark patina and vegetal and bead pieces are well preserved.