Fertility Figure
Southern Sotho, Lesotho or South Africa · 19th century · Art Institute of Chicago
Guide
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From the museum
Figures like this one, made of wood, gourds, sinew, or fibers and decorated with beads, were cherished possessions for Southern Sotho women. Bridegrooms presented them to their brides to celebrate shared intentions to build a family. Women used the beaded figures to promote and honor fertility, and they would also hang them in a place of respect in the family home to be enjoyed as an object of artistry and colorful beauty.
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC BY 4.0
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Details
- Maker
- Southern Sotho, Lesotho or South Africa
- Date
- 19th century
- Medium
- Glass beads, cloth, and fibre
- Dimensions
- 23 × 18 cm (9 × 7 in.)
- Place of origin
- South Africa
- Held by
- Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · Not on view
- Credit line
- African Decorative Arts Fund
Image: Art Institute of Chicago, CC0