Protective figure "bateba yadawora" · Burkina Faso, Lobi · ID: 3035773
Antonio Fiacco, Fehraltorf/Zurich, Switzerland
Description
wood, slightly shiny blackish brown patina, encrusted with clay, the right hand up to the mouth, the arm unnatural lengthened, a striking flat nose with the tip tapering to a point, unusual coiffure, slightly dam., insect caused damage in some areas, base;
“bateba yadawora”, the “sad bateba”, have nothing to do with sorcery. They show gestures of mourning, which the Lobi people show in according situations. It is said, that the “bateba” saddles itself with the harm, which otherwise its owner would have to suffer.
The object Protective figure “bateba yadawora” with the object ID 3035773 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 157.
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Comparing literature
Meyer, Piet, Kunst und Religion der Lobi, Zürich 1981, p. 104