Standing female figure "jo nyeleni"
Mali, Bamana
sold
EUR 4,500
Provenance
Hans Heller, fought in WW I and was a hunting friend of Hemingway. He did many famous old films on hunting lions with Massai. Heller had business throughout Africa and had an important African Art collection. He bought his objects in the 1930’s-40’s.James Stephenson, New York, USA
Size
H: 73 cm
H: 28.7 inch
Description
wood, rich blackish-brown patina, ten metal earrings, elongated trunk with broad angular shoulders, breasts and navel particularly emphasized, slightly dam., ear holes broken out in parts, insect caused damage (coiffure), rep. (breakage at the right forearm), abrasion of paint, plate;
“jo nyeleni” figures depict the ideal of a young woman in the prime of life. They are used in a seven years term on the occasion of initiation celebrations of the “jo society”.
Publications
AHDRC: 0139708