This fertility doll created by the Gwembe Tonga people was collected by St Andrews anthropologist Ladislav Holý during his fieldwork in Zambia in the 1960s and 1970s. It is made from elephant dung and decorated with irritant and highly toxic abrus seeds. With careful handling and precautions in place to ensure everyone’s safety, the fertility doll is now displayed in the new Wardlaw Museum at the University of St Andrews.

© University of St Andrews

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