Zemanek-Münster

Standing figure

Mali, Dogon
not available anymore
Provenance
Maria Wyss, Basel, Switzerland
Olivier Castellano, Paris, France (2009)
Christophe Rolley, Paris, France
Size
H: 43,5 cm
H: 17.1 inch

Description

wood, surface structure strongly marked by sacrificial patina and pigment remains, the facial features encrusted beyond recognition, minor damage in place of the right shoulder, but questionable if the figure ever had a right arm at all, since there can be found no correspondign traces on the right side of the body, slightly dam., base;
possibly representing a figure of the “vageu” type, which was placed on family altars. Sacrificial liquids were poured on the figural sculptures: including the blood of chickens, sheep, and goats, millet porridge, mixtures of various fruit and plant juices etc. These sacrificial materials are vehicles for “nyama”, the vital force that determines a persons mental and physical well-being.


Comparing literature

Roy, Christopher D., Die Dogon von Mali und Ober-Volta, München 1983, p. 20 f.

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