Two bird sculptures "lumbr" ·  Burkina Faso, Lobi · ID: 3034127

Description

wood, dark brown patina, a) wood, earthy dark brown patina with traces of kaolin, h: 21 cm, the wings indicated by linear incisions, slightly dam., metal socle; b) bird sculpture with comb, neckband with cowrie snails, rich dark brown shiny patina, h: 14 cm, the legs pierced at the base, socle;
the bird sculptures of the Lobi have the following purpose: when the owner of a “thil” was threatened with danger while he was away from home, e.g. working in the fields, visiting a market or simply travelling, the “thil” could send this bird after him - not the wooden one, but a living bird of the same species - who calls on him to visit a diviner as soon as possible. The threatening danger could be cleared up and he learned how to face it.

Comparing literature

Meyer, Piet, Kunst und Religion der Lobi, Zürich 1981, p. 113