Male commémorative figure · Côte d'Ivoire, Bété · ID: 3042876
sold
EUR 1,500
Provenance
James M. Silberman, Washington/Alexandria, USASize
H: 60 cm
H: 23.6 inch
Description
wood, black patina, extremely elongated neck, old collection label “WCL 72-83-5 Silberman”, slightly dam. (nose, mouth, ears), missing part (left foot tip).
Formerly, when a person died, the male heirs carved a piece of bamboo the length of the body. This bamboo was a receptacle for the deceaseds vital fluid and was kept by a close relative. During the commemorative celebrations in honour of the deceased, it was carried by an old woman who led the procession of crying women. This rudimentary representation, called “kole”, was sometimes replaced with wooden statuettes, like the present one.
Comparing literature
Barbier, Jean Paul (ed.), Art of Côte d' Ivoire, Vol II, Genève 1993, p. 90