This rare, large figure of hard, heavy wood probably represents an ‘ancestor’ of the Bambara hunters. He wears a hunter cap, on which hang three protective amulets ('Gri-gri'). Also on a string, which is attached to the cap at the back, hangs an amulet at the front on his chest. On his free carved left arm he wears an upper arm ring, and in his left hand he carries his hunting booty, a hare. Over his right shoulder hangs his hunting bag (at the hip). The right, originally bent arm is broken at the elbow. The hunter carries his weapon on his back. This large, slender figure of a Bambara hunter stands on stocky, lightly bent legs - without feet. It probably stood for a long time outdoors, exposed to the wind and rain. The many cracks and the typical, whitish-grey weathering patina are evidence of this. Breaks are also detectable, in particular, there are losses on the nose, the lips, the right tip of his cap, the right lower arm and the feet; the barrel of his weapon is broken off. All are old breaks. In spite of (or perhaps even because of) these age-related erosions, the present Bambara hunter is a very appealing object. H: 126 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: German Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Art de la Cote-D'Ivoire et de ses voisins' by André & Afo Guenneguez, fig. p. 212.