It is likely that this Nyamwezi piece from western Tanzania was traditionally used as both a fetish and a doll. A single gourd forms the body of the fetish figure/doll, with a fetish hole located at the top of the 'head', with bees wax. The wax secures old white, red and blue glass beads to the gourd, which wonderfully hang from the head of the fetish figure/doll like strands of hair.
The 'face' of the calabash figure has been delineated with a carved nose, and a pair of two white inserted bead eyes. Part of the surface of the gourd has been covered with leather, and around the body of the fetish figure/doll are multiple strands of glass beads, with two attached metal bells, a fetish bundle, a large seed and a copper coin.
Estimated Period: Mid-20th Century
Ex Private Collection, London
Height: 16.5cm
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