Bongo funerary figure
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1971.27.5
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Bongo
Date Made:
By 1953
Materials:
Wood Plant , Pigment
Process:
Carved , Painted , Stained , Varnished ? , Incised
Dimensions:
Ht = 105, base L = 150, base W = 159 mm [RTS 12/9/2005].
Weight:
> 1000 g
Other Owners:
Obtained from 'some one in administration' travelling up from southern sudan by Anthony John Arkell [RTS 16/9/2004].
Field Collector:
Unknown person working for the administration.
PRM Source:
Anthony John Arkell
Acquired:
Donated 1971
Collected Date:
1920 - 1953
Description:
Male figure carved from a single piece of light yellowish brown wood (Pantone 7508C), the surface of which has been stained a dark purplish red colour and then varnished to a glossy finish (Pantone 490C).
The figure has an oval head, with detailed hairstyle offset from the smoothly rounded forehead, consisting of a ridge running down the centre, with 2 bunches of hair on either side, marked with incised lines to indicate its arrangement in sections and rows; there are 2 further bunches of hair, parted in the middle, around the back of the head.
The face is rounded, with a slightly pointed chin, and prominent ears, nose and mouth standing out from the surface.
The eyebrows have been burnt into the surface with a hot blade, above a set of lentoid eyes with raised centres, white painted irises and then slightly raised rims around these.
The nostrils are marked in the base of the nose with 2 neatly bored depressions, and a single row of white jagged teeth have been painted inside the upper lip.
Facial scarring marks have been incised into either cheek, below the eyes.
The head rests on the top of a long neck, with an incised line around its circumference, which turns out to a slender torso with modelled rounded shoulders and chest, marked with an incised Y-shape, indicating body scarification, and a small raised knob representing the centre of the navel below.
The arms are held straight by the sides, slightly bent at the elbows, with an incised line at each wrist and slightly rectangular hands with five fingers each resting on the top of the thighs.
The legs are held slightly apart, and the figure stands with its feet facing forward.
The genitals are clearly defined at the front, and on the reverse of the figure, a recessed groove that marks the line of the spine continues down to separate the curved buttocks, which have a narrow groove burnt in below to represent the anus.
The back of the thighs and calves are rounded, and the figure stands on two broad feet with rounded heels, a knob at either side of the ankle, and stylised splaying feet with five incised lines marking out the toes, technically six on each foot.
The feet rest on roughly oval base with flat underside, which allows the figure to stand upright.
The figure is complete, but damaged.
2 European style nails have been driven into the wood so their crosshatched heads lie flush with the surface, one at the base of the left ankle, the other through the heel of the right foot.
The reason for this is not known.
The base has split badly across its base, and a large chip has been cut out of one side; the other side of the crack has been infilled with an unknown material, of similar colour to the varnished wood.
There are additional cracks up the back of the figure and around the side of the head.
It has a weight in excess of 1000 grams, and a height of 1050 mm; the base measures 150 by 159 mm across.
This figure was obtained by Anthony John Arkell, from an unspecified administrator who was travelling up from the Southern Sudan. Wooden figures of men were set up by graves of "old or important persons or their sons" Seligman, C. G., 1932. Pagan Tribes of the Nilotic Sudan, pp 471-3, Plate XLIX), and it has been suggested this example is a copy of this type of figure. Petherick noted this practice back in the 19th century: ‘in the centre of the village is a large circus, where, on a tree, their war-trophies - the skulls of the slain - are suspended .... the several approaches to it were narrow footpaths, and both sides were ornamented with rough wooden posts, carved into semblances of human figures, four feet apart; the first were largest in size, the others had on their heads wooden bowls. These figures were said to represent the chief proceeding to a festival, and followed by his retainers, bearing viands and man to the feast’ (J. Petherick, 1861, Egypt, The Sudan and Central Africa, pp 401-2). Schweinfurth also mentions the carving of 'memorial' figures; he calls such an image of a deceased woman moggioh-kummara, or 'the image of the wife', and suggests these images could be set up inside huts as well as near graves; they were used by the Mittu and Sofi as well as the Bongo, and could be dressed with various ornaments. He also illustrates groups of flanged posts and stylised figures from around burials (G. Schweinfurth, 1875, Artes Africanae, pl. VIII figures 5-8). For some of the funerary posts produced by these other groups, see K.-J. Krüger, 2002, "The Arts of Bahr-el-Ghazal (part 2)", Tribal Arts 28, 80-95. See also C.G. Seligman, 1917, "A Bongo Funerary Figure", Man 17 no. 67, and E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1929, "The Bongo", Sudan Notes and Records XII no I, pp 38-40.
Arkell mentioned that efforts were being made to encourage traditional carvers in the region; this figure may have been produced in response to this interest. It has a style that seems to differ from other Bongo figures in the Pitt Rivers Museum, such as 1930.86.64-65, and may reflect other influences; note also that the hairstyle on this figure has similarities to the hairstyles shown on Zande figured jars 1934.8.134.
Rachael Sparks 15/9/2005.
This figure was obtained by Anthony John Arkell, from an unspecified administrator who was travelling up from the Southern Sudan. Wooden figures of men were set up by graves of "old or important persons or their sons" Seligman, C. G., 1932. Pagan Tribes of the Nilotic Sudan, pp 471-3, Plate XLIX), and it has been suggested this example is a copy of this type of figure. Petherick noted this practice back in the 19th century: ‘in the centre of the village is a large circus, where, on a tree, their war-trophies - the skulls of the slain - are suspended .... the several approaches to it were narrow footpaths, and both sides were ornamented with rough wooden posts, carved into semblances of human figures, four feet apart; the first were largest in size, the others had on their heads wooden bowls. These figures were said to represent the chief proceeding to a festival, and followed by his retainers, bearing viands and man to the feast’ (J. Petherick, 1861, Egypt, The Sudan and Central Africa, pp 401-2). Schweinfurth also mentions the carving of 'memorial' figures; he calls such an image of a deceased woman moggioh-kummara, or 'the image of the wife', and suggests these images could be set up inside huts as well as near graves; they were used by the Mittu and Sofi as well as the Bongo, and could be dressed with various ornaments. He also illustrates groups of flanged posts and stylised figures from around burials (G. Schweinfurth, 1875, Artes Africanae, pl. VIII figures 5-8). For some of the funerary posts produced by these other groups, see K.-J. Krüger, 2002, "The Arts of Bahr-el-Ghazal (part 2)", Tribal Arts 28, 80-95. See also C.G. Seligman, 1917, "A Bongo Funerary Figure", Man 17 no. 67, and E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1929, "The Bongo", Sudan Notes and Records XII no I, pp 38-40.
Arkell mentioned that efforts were being made to encourage traditional carvers in the region; this figure may have been produced in response to this interest. It has a style that seems to differ from other Bongo figures in the Pitt Rivers Museum, such as 1930.86.64-65, and may reflect other influences; note also that the hairstyle on this figure has similarities to the hairstyles shown on Zande figured jars 1934.8.134.
Rachael Sparks 15/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession book entry -
G[ift].
REV.
A.J.
ARKELL, THE VICARAGE, CUDDINGTON, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.
Specimens collected while serving with the SUDAN Political Service, 1920-1953.
- AFRICA, SUDAN, probably BONGO.
Nude male figure carved from a single piece of wood.
Ornate hair style carved with care and showing central crest with raised ridge of hair each side.
Prominent ears flat to head.
Eye whites painted.
Flat nose with incised rectangular lines below each eye.
The wood appears to have been varnished at some time.
Wooden figures of men were set up by graves of "old or important persons or their sons".
Ref.
Seligman, C.
G., 1932.
Pagan Tribes of the Nilotic Sudan.
Pages 471-3, Plate XLIX.
This specimen could be a copy of such a grave figure.
The donor obtained the figure from "some one in Administration travelling up from S[outhern Sudan] and he formed the opinion that efforts were being made to encourage traditional carvers.
Height 105 cm.
Additional Accession Book Entry - 72.7.29 72.7.30 [in red biro, under accession number].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Southern Sudan; Bongo. Male figure; grave marker. d.d. Anthony John Arkell. 1971.27.5 [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 12/9/2005].
Written on object - 1971.27.5 [corrected from 1972.27.5] S. SUDAN [white ink, side of base; RTS 12/9/2005].
Card Catalogue Entry - No additional information on catalogue index cards [JC 29/11/1996].
Additional Accession Book Entry - 72.7.29 72.7.30 [in red biro, under accession number].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Southern Sudan; Bongo. Male figure; grave marker. d.d. Anthony John Arkell. 1971.27.5 [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 12/9/2005].
Written on object - 1971.27.5 [corrected from 1972.27.5] S. SUDAN [white ink, side of base; RTS 12/9/2005].
Card Catalogue Entry - No additional information on catalogue index cards [JC 29/11/1996].
