Two bird sculptures "lumbr"

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.

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