Mwana Hiti Doll, Kwere, Tanzania

A rare Mwana Hiti figure with legs
formerly in the Michel Renaudeau collection, France
Generally, Mwana Hiti figures consist of cylindrical bodies and a double-crested headdress,Tanzanian coastal region
Here, it has legs with very symmetrical carving at the knees, a dark patina, a polished surface, and dense wood
The legs are slightly offset from the torso, which gives the figure a sense of dynamism
"This full-body form is found in objects used during ceremonies or other events marking the lives of the Zaramoau—such as the tops of ceremonial staffs, funerary posts, or the backs of a chief’s throne.Depending on the context, the mwana hiti takes on a sacred, magical, or religious dimension, or a role linked to social status—all rooted in the authority of the ancestors. See  "Mwana Hiti: More Than Just a Doll" exhibition, Guibert Herson Collection, 2008–2009, at the Museum of African Art in Belgrade