Female Head and Torso
| Culture | Hemba |
|---|---|
| Title | Female Head and Torso |
| Date | 19th–20th century |
| Medium | Wood and pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 6 × 2 7/8 × 2 1/2 in. (15.2 × 7.3 × 6.4 cm) Overall: 6 × 2 7/8 × 2 1/2 in. (15.2 × 7.3 × 6.4 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 71.12 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A female figure depicted from the torso, just under the belly button, up. The figure's hands hold her breasts.
Likely intended to be affixed to the top of a gourd containing spiritually charged materials, this figure may have been associated with Buhabo (also known as Bugabo), a secret men's society concerned with divining the causes of illnesses and curing them and with promoting the welfare of its members.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Female Head and Torso | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=71.12