Since 1983, Richard and Barbara Faletti have donated over 150 cultural artifacts from Africa, Mexico, China, & Panama to the Spurlock Museum. The cultural items seen below highlight a few artifacts from the family's diverse collect that will be on view in the Museum's African Gallery.
Double Maternity Figure
Motherhood is both a woman's duty and her chief virtue in traditional African societies. Adult women help each other care for the community's children, and a woman with many children is highly respected.
Late 19th c. - early 20th c. CE, wood and metal.
2000.13.0007
Guru Zamble Society Head Crest
This mask combines features of bushbuck and panther.
20th c., wood, pigment.
1984.11.0002
Oshe Shango Dance Wand
This carving of a standing female figure with facial scarifications bears and emblem representing Shango, the Thunder God.
20th c. CE, wood, pigment.
1986.21.0002
Igbo Face Mask
ca 19th - 20th c. CE, wood.
1994.17.0001
Igbo Mmwo Society (Agboho Mmwo) Mask
This Mask is also known as a Maiden Spirit Mask, although it was danced by males. Hair setting would require days during which the woman would have to sleep with her head elevated by a neck rest.
20th c. CE, wood, pigment, paint.
2000.13.0008
Yoruba Ibeji Male Twin Figure from Nigeria
Ibeji figures are created as a permanent home for the soul of deceased twins. Tiwns are considered to be children of the Thunder God Shango, and thus may bring either good or bad fortune. The figures are carefully gaurded and cared for as if living.
20th c. wood, glass, pigment.
1986.13.0001
Ibeji Female Figure
20th c. CE, wood, pigment.
1983.05.0027
Yoruba Crown from Nigeria
Beaded crowns are important symbols of Yoruba kingship. The faces are said to represent Ododuwa, the master of all Yoruba kings, or Olokun the god of the sea.
20th c. glass, cotton.
1990.12.0001
Yoruba Egungun Mask
Grotesque and often surrealistic in conception, Egungun masks, such as this large head surmonted by a turtle, are used mainly at funerals of members of the cult and represent deceased members of the family. 20th c. CE, wood, pigment - stain,
1983.05.0008
Baule Standing Votive Figure
Baule figural sculpture, such as this female figure, generally depicts two kinds of spirits: nature spirits and spirit spouses.
wood, glass.
1983.05.0015
Yoruba Diviner's Bag
These bags carry the implements used by the Shango priests for divination purposes.
20th c. CE, glass, textile - cotton.
1990.12.0002