Zemanek-Münster

Male stone figure "nomoli"

Sierra Leone, Kissi
sold EUR 2,000
Provenance
Emil Storrer, Zurich, Switzerland
Size
H: 10 cm
H: 3.9 inch

Description

greyish brown patina, snout-like mouth, rep. (breakage neck), slight traces of abrasion, base;
such figures were used in fertility rites to grant a good rice harvest. The treatment of the “nomoli” was not affected by reference for them. If the harvest was not satisfying, it might have happened that the stone figures were whipped, sometimes until they were damaged or even destroyed.


Comparing literature

Tagliaferri, Aldo & Arno Hammacher, Die steinernen Ahnen, Graz 1974, ill. 11

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