Mossi, Burkina Faso: A beautiful, carefully manufactured ‘Biga’ fertility doll.
Among the Mossi people, women hoping for offspring carry these dolls (called ‘Biga’) in their clothes (for a more detailed explanation see cat. no 17).
The present, typical ‘Biga doll’ is carved from hard wood and dyed dark brown. It displays an especially beautiful style and is carefully crafted, finished with linear chip-carving décor. The hairstyle includes plaits both left and right, whilst eyes made of aluminium studs are inserted in its narrow stylised face. It wears a pearl chain made of small, red glass pearls around its long neck, breasts and abdomen display the typical tribal scarification marks, the female genitalia are sketched on the front of the plinth. A very good piece with noticeable traces of carrying on the left and right (the colour scuffed). In perfect condition, no damage!
First half of the 20th century; H: 31 cm. (ME)
Provenance: English Collection; Belgian Private Collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 1,000.- to EUR 1,200.-
Mossi, Burkina Faso: A beautiful, carefully manufactured ‘Biga’ fertility doll.
Among the Mossi people, women hoping for offspring carry these dolls (called ‘Biga’) in their clothes (for a more detailed explanation see cat. no 17).
The present, typical ‘Biga doll’ is carved from hard wood and dyed dark brown. It displays an especially beautiful style and is carefully crafted, finished with linear chip-carving décor. The hairstyle includes plaits both left and right, whilst eyes made of aluminium studs are inserted in its narrow stylised face. It wears a pearl chain made of small, red glass pearls around its long neck, breasts and abdomen display the typical tribal scarification marks, the female genitalia are sketched on the front of the plinth. A very good piece with noticeable traces of carrying on the left and right (the colour scuffed). In perfect condition, no damage!
First half of the 20th century; H: 31 cm. (ME)
Provenance: English Collection; Belgian Private Collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |