Figure of a hermaphrodite ·  Mali, Dogon · ID: 3038097

Description

wood, encrusted greyish brown patina, sticky sacrificial patina in some areas (back of the head, back), rectangular contoured face with projecting beard and c-shaped ears, prominent breasts, the upper part of the body flattened on both sides with the belly tapering to a point, tightly enclosed by overlong arms with the hands held in a protective gesture in front of the shame, legs extremely bent, missing parts (both lower legs and feet), rep. (right leg on backside), drilled holes (back of the head, right thigh), base;
because of the sticky sacrificial patina present figure might belong to the type of “vageu” figures. These figures were placed aside the body of important deceased clan members in order to absorb a good deal of their “nyama”, the spiritual forces of the dead. Afterwards the spiritually strengthened figure was returned to the shrine, where now sacrifices could be made to obtain and secure health and fecundity. Sacrificial liquids were poured on the figural sculptures, including the blood of chicken, sheep, and goats, millet porridge, mixtures of various fruit and plant juices etc. These sacrificial materials are vehicles for “nyama”, the vital force that determines a persons mental and physical well-being.

The object Figure of a hermaphrodite with the object ID 3038097 was last part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction at March 21, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 134 achieved a sales price of EUR 8,800.

You can find more Figures and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.