Kneeling female figure with raised arms · Mali, Inland Niger Delta/Djenne · ID: 3041785
Walter Schmidt, Würzburg/Innsbruck, Germany/Austria
Description
light-beige terracotta with reddish coating, both hands resting on the head, the face raised towards the viewer, modelled with ornament (necklace, bracelets) and loincloth, breasts especially accentuated, striking detail: elongated proportions (thighs) and oversized left hand, missing parts (right thigh and arm), rep. (hands, both arms with breakages in several places);
the figures can be interpreted as guardian figures, spirit beings, memorial figures of the dead or depictions of ancient legends.
The old town of “Jenne-jeno” was founded at around 800. In the region of this city terracotta statues had been found since 1943, which were called “Djenne” after their main archaeological site. Scientific analysis date the findings between the 12th and 16th century. There is speculation about the creators of these figures and it is believed that they were peoples of the old Ghana kingdom, who immigrated to the area of the Niger Delta.
Expertise
Certificate of Authenticity, RF-Nr. 3805, 17.05.1985, Prof. Dr. J. Riederer, Rathgen-Forschungslabor, Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin
Publications
AHDRC: 0141948