The soapstone figurine of a crouched man with beard and folded arms. The figure has bulging eyes, large nose, and lips. Large ear on the right side. Legs and knees are held by the wrapped arms. The carving bears customary characteristics of similar stones found in the coastal area of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. Stone shows signs of aging and exposure to elements. With exceptions of several chips the stone remains in good condition.
GEOGRAPHY / CULTURE GROUP: Sierra Leone, Mende. The ancestors (Mande) of Mende people moved south into current day Sierra Leone in the 16th century where they settled and became farmers, hunters, and fishermen. Current day farmers have found these small stone figures in their fields. However, no tribal group claims credit for the stones. The stones are among the earliest forms of art in Sierra Leone. These crude stones have been discovered to a lesser degree in Guinea and Liberia. The region is currently inhabited by over 20 tribal groups mostly descendants of the Mande migration. Nomoli is the Mende word given to these figures. Other tribes refer to the figures by different names.
