Description:

West Africa, Burkina Faso, Mossi Tribe, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden doll known as a biiga (literally "child") that is covered in tanned antelope hide and used as a plaything by Mossi girls. The cylindrical body has a pair of pendulous breasts beneath the plateaued clavicle, and the slender neck is adorned with a pair of hide-wrapped rings. The compressed head exhibits minimalist facial features along the front, round-topped triangular ears, and a crested coiffure. Mossi dolls are traditionally carved by male artisans and given to girls for play and to ensure their attainment of fertility. Size: 2.125" W x 13" H (5.4 cm x 33 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA collection; ex-Dr. Peter Horvath collection, Massachusetts and Florida, USA

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#156731

  • Condition: Small area of abrasion to leather along back of neck, with light staining and age-commensurate desiccation to leather wraps, otherwise intact and very good. Nice patina across leather.

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September 10, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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