KWERE, Trunk figure - Mwana hiti, Tanzania
wood, beads, pitch, pigment
Ex private collection, New York
5" tall
early to mid 20th century
An example with an unusual feature regarding the head; As you can see in the photos below, the neck of the
figure is not in the center, as is found in most all figures, but placed more towards the front of the figure and the
head is carved with a slight tilt forward. The section of the head between the crest is filled with black pitch.
Mwana hiti, a term that means some variant of "child made of wood", refers to iconic figures that depict a highly
stylized female torso with a crested head. The figures are commonly referred to as "dolls" but they are anything
but dolls as they play significant roles in the spiritual lives of a wide range of people in Tanzania. They are almost
exclusively used by female initiates during seclusion and coming out ceremonies. Smaller ones are often worn as
amulets by women wishing to enhance their fertility. The figures are also found on thrones, stools and staffs of the
region and often times represent ancestors and are depicted in pairs. - References from "Mwana Hiti" by Marc
Felix.
Inventory # RTMH6
$800
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