Lobi, Burkina Faso: An old ‘bateba figure’.
The Lobi believe in invisible and often evil spirits called ‘thila’ (‘thil’ in the singular). They are responsible for bad luck, illness, etc. Whenever a Lobi has a problem, he goes to the ‘priest’ or soothsayer of his village and asks him for advice. The ‘priest’ requests that his client have a wood figure carved. Such figures are called ‘bateba’ and they are regarded as a ‘temporary abode’ for a ‘thil’ spirit. They are placed in special shrines and receive sacrificial offerings. This enables the ‘priest’ to establish a contact with the spirit. Because the ‘thil’ now has an ‘abode’. The present, male, standing ‘bateba figure’ of the Lobi is made of light-coloured, hard, heavy wood and coloured dark brown. It displays visible traces of sacrificial offerings on the front side. This is because ‘bateba’ figures are placed in the shrine with their front side to the entrance, through which they receive sacrificial offerings (such as millet and similar products). As a result, their backs display only few traces of sacrificial offerings. With good patina and small, age-related damage (tears, cracks to the feet etc.). First half of the 20th century; H: 63 cm. (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 1,200.- to EUR 1,500.-
Lobi, Burkina Faso: An old ‘bateba figure’.
The Lobi believe in invisible and often evil spirits called ‘thila’ (‘thil’ in the singular). They are responsible for bad luck, illness, etc. Whenever a Lobi has a problem, he goes to the ‘priest’ or soothsayer of his village and asks him for advice. The ‘priest’ requests that his client have a wood figure carved. Such figures are called ‘bateba’ and they are regarded as a ‘temporary abode’ for a ‘thil’ spirit. They are placed in special shrines and receive sacrificial offerings. This enables the ‘priest’ to establish a contact with the spirit. Because the ‘thil’ now has an ‘abode’. The present, male, standing ‘bateba figure’ of the Lobi is made of light-coloured, hard, heavy wood and coloured dark brown. It displays visible traces of sacrificial offerings on the front side. This is because ‘bateba’ figures are placed in the shrine with their front side to the entrance, through which they receive sacrificial offerings (such as millet and similar products). As a result, their backs display only few traces of sacrificial offerings. With good patina and small, age-related damage (tears, cracks to the feet etc.). First half of the 20th century; H: 63 cm. (ME)
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: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |