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An amazing sculpture of a deformed male afflicted with phocomelia. This severe disfigurement is rare causing limbs to shorten and bend. It is so scarce that only 141 cases are are currently known, and of the 141 only 4 have all limbs affected by the disease. It is hard to grasp how rare it would have been 1000 years ago. The malformed were often selected as shamans or shaman allies. It is believed they were chosen by the gods to be different and therefore had a relationship with the deities. Indigenes saw deformity as curious not grotesque. The creation of this effigy stresses this individual’s importance, so much so as to be replicated for ritual display. Height 25.5”