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The Collector(s) / Donor(s) Simon Ottenberg is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Washington. Having studied anthropology at Northwestern University with the famous Africanist Melville Herskovits, he began working in Africa in the early 1950s.His early research focused on various aspects of the Igbo culture of southeastern Nigeria, especially the peoples living in and around the town of Afikpo. In the late 1970s he shifted his research focus to northern Sierra Leone and the Limba people. In addition to his work in anthropology he has been a major contributor to the study of African art. He recently curated an exhibition and wrote a book dealing with a number of artists affiliated with the School of Fine Arts at the Nsukka campus of the University of Nigeria in southeast Nigeria. Since the early 1970s he has been an avid collector of African art. Professor Ottenberg donated a considerable portion of his collection to Michigan State University in 1992. Collector(s) / Donor(s) Statement The Object(s) This sculpture depicts a woman holding a small child. The image of woman as mother is one of the most common icons found in the sculptural traditions of Africa. Unfortunately, very little is known about this particular piece. Ottenberg had no records for this object, but the base with a previous owner's identification number suggest that Ottenberg probably acquired it in the US, Canada or Europe. Since the figure has such a sketchy provenance, it is difficult to say for sure where it is from. Based solely on stylistic grounds, it may have been produced by a Temne or Landogo carver in northern Sierra Leone. It is interesting to note that mother and child figures are very rare in northern Sierra Leone. Since this type of sculpture has not been studied by anthropologists or art historians little can be said about it. Further Information Books and Articles none Internet Resources none
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