Top of a figural carved staff "tefalapica" or "tefalipitya" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3041744

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Description

wood, partly oily dark brown patina, remains of pigments, in shape of a seated female figure, carrying a bulbous vessel on her head, adorned with cowrie snails attached to the back by cord, metal earrings, rep. (breakage right hand), left hand and right foot tip missing, slight traces of abrasion, base;
the sculpted figure always represents a “pitya” - a young unmarried woman at the peak of her physical beauty. “Te-fali-pitya” means “hoe-work-girl”.
From dawn to dusk throughout the cultivating season, teams of young men swing their iron hoes to the rhythms of drums and xylophones, as proud staff bearers follow behind the competing champions of each team.

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Publications

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Afrikanische Kunst in Deutschen Privatsammlungen, München 1973, p. 78

AHDRC: 0071566

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