Standing female figure ·  Guinea, Toma · ID: 3036007

Description

wood, black patina, kaolin, carved with necklace and arm rings, notched scarifications, navel with inserted wooden plug, the long and flat U-shaped face below projecting brows reminding of the “landa” mask type of the Toma, elaborate crested coiffure in grooved patterns, slightly dam., minor missing parts (foot tips), traces of insect caused damage (left forearm), crack (backside), metal plate;
the Toma (Loma) live in the northern parts of Liberia and bordering areas of Guinea. Only few figures of them are known; their figurative sculpture was privately owned and was associated with divination or protection against sorcery.

The object Standing female figure with the object ID 3036007 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 219 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,500.

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Comparing literature

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, Munich 2009, p. 378