Description:

West Africa, Mali, Djenne peoples, ca. 14th to 15th century CE. This is an interesting and rare hand-built pottery idol or tool of a highly simplified and abstract from. The piece has a thick cylindrical body with a shallow cavity in the base, the rest of the shaft is solid and branches into a Y-shape, the arms terminating with rounded heads- which are possibly representative of phalluses. Larger versions of these Y-shaped forms may have been used as bed or chair supports, but the slender nature of this example suggests a different use- perhaps a finial or fertility idol- but the function of this piece is uncertain. The exterior is painted a warm, earthy red and Djenne is famous for its terracotta architecture. Size: 4.4" L x 2" W (11.2 cm x 5.1 cm)

Provenance: Whisnant Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA acquired prior to 2000

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#169846

  • Condition: Loss and abrasion to the tip of one arm. Surface abrasions and chips along shaft. Mineral and earthen deposits across surface.

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March 31, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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