Standing figure of a hermaphrodite ·  Mali, Dogon · ID: 3035985

Description

wood, encrusted greyish brown patina, male characteristics (beard) and female (breasts, accentuated navel, the gesture of the hands resting on the abdomen in a protective manner), slightly dam., minor missing parts, cracks (right side of the body, left side of the head), block-like 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.