Figurally carved container

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Description

wood, partly oily blackish brown patina, remains of pigments, a spherical vessel rising from a stool-shaped base, the lid carved with a female half-figure, remains of a black substance inside the receptacle, min. dam., fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion;
probably used for storing unguents, like palm oil or karité butter. Such ointment in recent times has been used cosmetically, but formerly was also used for magic. The application was believed to protect against hidden dangers and malevolence.

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Comparing literature

Koloß, Hans-Joachim, Die Kunst der Senufo, Berlin 1990, p. 45 Förster, Till, Die Kunst der Senufo aus Schweizer Sammlungen, Zürich 1988, p. 114, ill. 112

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