Seated female figure "jo nyeleni" ·  Mali, Bamana · ID: 3037934

Description

wood, rich blackish brown patina, eyes with inlay of red abrus seeds (missing on the right), characteristic: the overlong upper part of the body with angular shoulders and voluminous conical breasts, slightly dam., minor missing parts (right breast, ears), abrasion of paint, custom mount;
“Jo nyeleni” figures belong to the “jo” association. Most “jo” figural sculpture is used by the “numu jo” troop, the blacksmiths initiates. The “nyeleni” figures are either carried by the performers or placed behind them on the ground as a kind of backdrop. “Nyeleni” are said to increase visual interest, punctuating the performance and attracting the audience’s attention. They are “things to look at”. In performance they are adorned with loincloths, jewelry, head ties, or other items borrowed from young women in the village.

The object Seated female figure “jo nyeleni” with the object ID 3037934 was last part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction at March 21, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 125 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.

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