A heddle pulley, in which a reel runs over an axle below. With a thread over this reel, the weaver can separate the warp threads of his woven piece into ‘fans’, using a foot pedal. Then the weft threads are ‘shot through’ these ‘fans’. Thus, fabric is created. In order to provide the weaver with ‘something beautiful’ to look at while working, the heddle pulleys are particularly finely crafted. On the present heddle pulley of the Senufo people, the reel and the axle at the bottom are unfortunately missing. Yet the heddle pulley itself displays a ‘classical’ and typical Senufo motif: the head of the calao bird, ‘sacred’ to the Senufo people. This calao bird is a hornbill and is viewed by the Senufo and other tribes of the west African savanna as especially wise and faithful.
The present heddle pulley of the Senufo people is carved of hard, brown wood, was originally completely dyed black and shows fine, incised decoration in narrow lines. With slight colour scuffing due to age, and very good, old shiny patina through the protracted use of this Senufo item.
Height: 17 cm; width: 7 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Viennese private collection.

Lit.: ‘Die Kunst der Senufo’ by H. J. Koloß & Till Förster, catalogue of the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin, ill. 39, 40, 41, 42.