Makonde Female Fetish Doll, Based

Hands on hips and mouth open, she seems to be making a point.

This female fetish doll is Makonde, from Tanzania, East Africa, and dates to the 20th C. It is terra cotta, mounted on a base. The Makonde are widely known for their carving, and small figures like this are often associated with fertility and protection, though their uses varied. The standing figure has a round head with pierced eyes, small ears and a protruding open mouth, topped with small knobs. Slender arms rest on the hips, small breasts are set high, and the legs stand slightly apart. The clay has a speckled gray-brown surface. It is 3.25 inches wide, 3 deep and 9.5 high.

Small in stature, considerable in attitude.