Whilst reminiscent of the large dance headdresses such as the one formerly in the Helena Rubinstein collection (Lem, 1949, fig.16), the form of this figure is closer to a smaller figure in the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato, illustrated by Kate Ezra (1986, fig.23). It has the same flanged base and employs the same use of strong geometric forms and angled planes. Ezra suggests its function may have been that of a sonkalani, a sculpture carried by dancers or placed on the ground in a dance area. Protective magical substances were applied to such figures and Ezra states that the name sonkalani may be interpreted to mean "little handles on which to make sacrifices". The Imperato figure retains a bundle of sacrificial material about its "waist" though the rest of its body and face are relatively clean. It seems likely that the present figure served a similar function, though all traces of sacrificial material were clearly removed long ago. The treatment of the face and coiffure are similar to those on a tall female figure collected by Lem in the region of Tuna-Negena (op. cit. pp.60-61, figs.14-15)