Description:

West Africa, Mali, Bamana peoples, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A carved wooden nyeleni statue of a nude woman with idealized features, made from dense wood, likely teak. These figures, used in Jo society initiation ceremonies among the Bamana people, represent an idealized form of youthful feminine beauty, with geometric stylization including conical breasts, exaggerated buttocks, and cylindrical limbs and torso. Often rubbed with oil to create a lustrous surface, they reflect how young Bamana women prepare for special occasions. Historically, unmarried Bamana men used nyeleni figures to symbolize the ideal wife, with the figures playing a role in the initiation ceremonies marking the transition to adulthood in Bamana culture. Size: 6.75" L x 5" W x 24.5" H (17.1 cm x 12.7 cm x 62.2 cm)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, purportedly deaccession from a museum

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#190177

  • Condition: Stable pressure fissures throughout. Patina on surface from oil being rubbed into the wood. Frayed wool yarn attached to the ears. Overall lovely condition.

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November 22, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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