Stone figure "nomoli" · Sierra Leone, Kissi · ID: 3042175
Arendt Oetker, Berlin, Germany
Helmut Gernsheim, Castagnola, Switzerland
Bernhard Jäger, Frankfurt a. M., Germany
Description
blackish brown patina, seated figure with tripartite crested coiffure and accentuated navel, incised decor, dam. (eyezone), arms and legs missing;
“nomoli” figures were used during fertility rites to ensure a rich harvest. If they failed in their function and the harvest turned out to be unsatisfactory, the figures would be whipped during a ceremony, sometimes until they were damaged or even destroyed. Hence many of these figures have breakages or are missing limbs.
The object Stone figure “nomoli” with the object ID 3042175 was part of the auction 86th Tribal Art Auction on May 27, 2017. The object with the lot number 132 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,500 with an asking price of EUR 1,500.
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Publications
AHDRC: 0142015