Standing female figure "deble" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3033349

Description

light brown wood, dark brown patina, remains of paint, without feet rising from a cylindrical base, striking slender and elongated limbs, a narrow face with protruding chin and cheek scarifications, min. dam., cracks, minor missing parts, traces of abrasion, on wooden base;
the large anthromorphic Senufo figures commonly known as “deble” are closely related to the practices of the initiatory and community institution, “poro”. For a long time observers limited the significance of these figures to their “dynamic” use – carried in pairs, the figures were used to rhythmically pound the earth during funerary ceremonies. However there is also a “static” use for the figures, which were sunk into the ground at the time of funerary rites. At the same time, the “poro piibele” figures (“children of the poro”) were placed upright near the “kpaala” (a small shelter built either in the village or on its outskirts), serving as the representatives of “poro”. They served as witnesses at the performances of the recently initiated age group, who were charged with the role of conducting the rituals which guaranteed that the deceased would be transformed into a benevolent ancestor.

The object Standing female figure “deble” with the object ID 3033349 was part of the auction 70th tribal art auction on September 8, 2012. The object with the lot number 264 achieved a sales price of EUR 11,000 with an asking price of EUR 8,000.

You can find more Figures and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Förster, Till, Die Kunst der Senufo aus Schweizer Sammlungen, Zürich 1988, p. 73, ill. 54