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Male Figure
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Hungaan figures of this size served as guardians of ritual shrines and functioned in rituals to promote fertility, guarantee well-being, and ensure longevity. The striking crested hairstyle imitates a real coiffure or a wig, indicative of status and prestige. The hands supporting the chin identify the figure as a chief who is immersed in thought and contemplation, pondering over his responsibilities.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineMale Figure, mid- to late 1800s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Hungaan-style maker. Wood and colorant; overall: 68 cm (26 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund, 2003.36
