Flute playing "bla bochio" ·  Benin, Fon · ID: 3032093

Description

wood, encrusted greyish brown sacrificial patina, the leg zone wrapped with cloth saturated with mass, carrying the lower jaw bone of an animal on the back, on pointed iron base, slightly dam., cracks, on metal base;
“bochios” serve as guardians and protectors of a village, a secret society, a family or an individual. They are able to chase away danger from outside, such as sorcery or evil spirits and can eliminate danger from the inside as well, such as dissension and enviousness within the communtity.

The object Flute playing “bla bochio” with the object ID 3032093 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 348 achieved a sales price of EUR 400.

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Comparing literature

Geest en Kracht, Vodun uit West-Afrika, Berg en Dal 1996, ill. 69 f.