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Lot No. 19

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Mossi, Burkina Faso: A ‘biga’ fertility doll, with plaited coiffure and carved arms.

Lot No. 19

Mossi, Burkina Faso: A ‘biga’ fertility doll, with plaited coiffure and carved arms.


Mossi, Burkina Faso: A ‘biga’ fertility doll, with plaited coiffure and carved arms. - Tribal Art

These typical, abstract fertility dolls, called ‘biga’, are worn by the women of the Mossi in their garments when they wish for children. When a child is born, the ‘biga’ dolls are given to the girls as a toy. The present ‘biga’ made of hard, brown wood not only displays the typical rod shape with head, breasts, accentuated navel and geometric, linear Mossi tattoos, but it also features the peculiar braid of hair worn over the forehead, which is common among Mossi women. Rather unusual are the arms, carved out from the same piece, on both sides of the ‘biga’. This is rare! In addition, this piece displays a visibly old, good usage patina and hardly any damage. First half of the 20th century; H: 33 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Pierre Robin, Paris; Viennese private collection.

Specialist: Erwin Melchardt Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465

erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at

05.11.2014 - 13:00

Realized price: **
EUR 625.-
Estimate:
EUR 1,000.- to EUR 1,200.-

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Mossi, Burkina Faso: A ‘biga’ fertility doll, with plaited coiffure and carved arms.


These typical, abstract fertility dolls, called ‘biga’, are worn by the women of the Mossi in their garments when they wish for children. When a child is born, the ‘biga’ dolls are given to the girls as a toy. The present ‘biga’ made of hard, brown wood not only displays the typical rod shape with head, breasts, accentuated navel and geometric, linear Mossi tattoos, but it also features the peculiar braid of hair worn over the forehead, which is common among Mossi women. Rather unusual are the arms, carved out from the same piece, on both sides of the ‘biga’. This is rare! In addition, this piece displays a visibly old, good usage patina and hardly any damage. First half of the 20th century; H: 33 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Pierre Robin, Paris; Viennese private collection.

Specialist: Erwin Melchardt Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465

erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at

Buyers hotline Mon.-Fri.: 10.00am - 5.00pm
kundendienst@dorotheum.at
+43 1 515 60 200
Auction: Tribal Art
Auction type: Saleroom auction
Date: 05.11.2014 - 13:00
Location: Vienna | Palais Dorotheum
Exhibition: 31.10. - 05.11.2014


** Purchase price incl. buyer's premium and VAT

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