Funerary Post (Kikango)

Giriama people, Mijikenda group, Kenya, African

20th century

  • Titles Funerary Post (Kikango) (Descriptive)
  • Medium wood
  • Dimensions 63 1/4 × 5 1/2 × 2 in. (160.7 × 14 × 5.1 cm)
  • Credit Line Gift of Gene Hackman, 1987.198.4
  • Work Type funerary post
  • Classification Sculpture

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Wide vessel has narrow neck with flaring rim. Bands of incised patterns on neck and body of vessel; shoulder features free-form, ribbon-like patterns.
Ovoid, figurative vessel has round bottom, neck, and abstract head with wide mouth and bumps on back of head. Body has single, short arm and raised bumps, possibly genitals.
Barbed hook
Staff surmounted by the double axe motif, stylized reference to the thunderbolt believed to be hurled from the skies by Shango, with kneeling female figure.