Female figure · Sierra Leone, Temne · ID: 3042420
Rive Gauche, Paris, 18 November 2013, lot 41
Description
wood, reddish brown patina, black paint, neck carved with rings, flat facial features, fragmentary/insect caused missing parts (lower part of the body missing), slight traces of abrasion, base;
such figures were probably used by female dignitaries “an-Digba” of the “bondo” women society. They were part of their most valuable ritual belongings and were kept hidden in a personal room. Only on one occasion, i. e. the initiation of young girls into adulthood, such a figure was presented to the public.
The object Female figure with the object ID 3042420 was last part of the auction 86th Tribal Art Auction at May 27, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 174.
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Publications
AHDRC: 0142068