Standing female figure ·  Nigeria, Djibete · ID: 3032539

Description

wood, middle brown patina, black paint, a massive voluminous body (legs, shoulders) composed of clear contoured geometrical forms, the columnar neck supporting a proportionally small head with bulky coiffure, accentuated cut facial features, linear skin scarification marks on body and face, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base;
the Djibété are a small ethnical group in northern Nigeria. Aside of the figure published in “Image de la Femme dans l’ Art Africain” (ill. 59), only bird masks with long beak are known from the Djibété. Nothing is known of their ritual use. Present figure therefore eminently rare !

Comparing literature

H. Joubert, M. L. Félix, M. Rivière, Image de la Femme dans l' Art Africain, Ballan-Miré 2000, ill. 59 Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Lexikon Afrikanische Kunst und Kultur, München, Berlin 1994, p. 188