Figures such as this were produced for sale to non indigenous peoples in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is for this reason they are so rare and highly prized. They were often produced and sold as male/female pairs by the Tsonga, and the Shangaan people, north of Zululand. The style of these figures seems based on that of larger ones used in important male initiation rites.
The combination of the elongated body, large head, articulated and elongated legs, and especially the cylindrical base is quite distinctive.
We acquired a few of these figures and they were from a private collector in northern South Africa/ Zimbabwe.
12"H x 2.5"W x 2.5"D
