A Senufo female guardian sculpture, Ivory Coast, Central Korhogo region, standing on her two shortened legs, the torso is thin and elongated, protruding navel, wide shoulders, thick arms, hands touching the abdomen, tapering breasts, cylindric neck supporting a large head with an elongated jaw line, the fascial plane with a protruding small mouth beneath an elongated, convex nose, crescent eyes in deep sockets, framed by large ears, the hair is pulled upwards into a single crested comblike coiffure with the traditional hair-dress of the Senufo woman; blackened to reddish patina, partly shiny, several age cracks, remnants of a Kaolin patina in particular on the fascial plane, some abrasions at the base. Certificate of provenance.

Lit.: Susan Elisabeth Ggaliardi, Senufo unbound, Cleveland Museum, plate 86 ff.

“Men's poro and women's sandogo associations commit themselves to the physical and spiritual well-being of Senufo communities. Although divination in northern Côte d'Ivoire is most often associated with sandogo women, not all diviners are members of the organization. Senior poro members and other enterprising men also establish divination practices. Sculptures on divination altars reflect the status, prestige, and skill of their owners and appeal to spiritual intermediaries. Sculptures that poro members carry in procession or place in a central courtyard during funeral and commemorative ceremonies for deceased poro elders.”Source: The MET Museum.

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Height: 99 cm
Weight: 4,6 kg