Vessel's lid with sitting male figure on top "ogo banya" or "ogo koro"
Michael Storrer, Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss Private Collection
Description
wood, matt greyish brown patina, encrusted in some areas, metal earring (strongly corroded), with characteristic arrow-shaped nose and projecting flat beard, slender upper part of the body and thin legs, sitting on a stool rising from disc-shaped lid with incised linear decor, both legs and half of the lid missing, drilled earhole on the right broken out, missing parts along rim;
probably once part of a special type of receptacle which used to be supported by horse sculpture. Corresponding the sitting figure on top of the lid might be a representation of the “hogon”, who is the spiritual leader, provided with political and ritual skills and bearing the responsibility for rain and for prosperity of the community. The vessels served as ritual receptacle on the occasion of inauguration. According to various sources they were filled with food, which was distributed to the people during the enthronement of the “hogon”. The lidded vessels, which were of no use for daily life, were particularly appreciated by the first collectors such as Tristan Tzara and Béla Hein since the 1920’s.