Figurally carved container ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3035808

Description

wood, partly oily blackish brown patina, remains of pigments, remains of a white substance inside the receptacle, min. dam., small missing parts, 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.

The object Figurally carved container with the object ID 3035808 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 84 achieved a sales price of EUR 600.

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Comparing literature

Förster, Till, Die Kunst der Senufo aus Schweizer Sammlungen, Zürich 1988, p. 114, ill. 112