Female altar figure "bochio" · Benin, Fon/Anago · ID: 3040130
Description
wood, copper ring, the lower jaw of a small animal and a loincloth wrapped around the figures body, figure and attachments likewise coated with a thick encrusted layer of sacrificial patina, metal plate;
“bochios” are placed in front of houses, near the entrance of a dwelling or on village squares. They are guardian figures disposing of protective forces by attracting potential danger and keeping it away from the people. Vodun “bochios” are “charged up” by a vodun and are directly dependent on the power of that certain Vodun for their effect.
The object Female altar figure “bochio” with the object ID 3040130 was last part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction at February 27, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 370 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.
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