The face with kaolin, showing strong age. The surface well polished. 7.5" Height. Modellos: Here, the start of some numerous rarities, small master carved teaching tool pieces, from numerous tribes, most all outstanding rarities which the Massachusetts Museum had a particular interest in, and built a fine and rare collection. This higher grade of items in the Massachusetts African Arts Museum put an emphasis on certain rarities, namely master carver's miniatures. These carved presentations of a type, in miniature, to be handed around and studied by the masters student’s body of carvers. The practice and generally only singular output placed these as rather coveted momentos within any tribal 'treasury' and more difficult to acquire. A goodly number, most from this collection come from African specialists in Belgium and France. In titles, where 'Modello' is written, some initial ones of these great miniature antique pieces, are here offered, most from prior museum and a few other sources.