Samburu Doll with Beaded Eyes

The Samburu are a Nilotic, semi-nomadic people of north central Kenya, related but distinct from the Masaai. They live in dry country with two short rainy seasons in the lowlands northwest of Mount Kenya. Samburu dolls were traditionally carved by older male relatives, with clothes fabricated by mothers and older sisters. The Samburu also fabricated dolls from clay. As Kenya has a long history with tourism as well as with settlers of European origin, Samburu dolls, headrests and other artifacts long ago came to the attention of visitors to Samburu country and its spectacular wildlife reserves. This doll was collected sometime in the 1960s or 70s by Sherri Hunt who ran a popular modern art gallery in Nairobi. The figure has beaded eyes and wears wire adornment but is otherwise unclothed. Its surface has been rubbed with red ochre and fat. 7″ tall and mounted on a custom base.

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