Lobi, Burkina Faso: a small, standing, male figure, called ‘Bateba Puhwe’. Decorated with a cowry shell and red jequirity beans. Old and with good patina.
Lobi, Burkina Faso: a small, standing, male figure, called ‘Bateba Puhwe’. Decorated with a cowry shell and red jequirity beans. Old and with good patina.
Amongst the Lobi in the south-west of Burkina Faso, such figures are carved at the instruction of priests, soothsayers and healers; they are supposed to serve as temporary ‘residences’ for the invisible spirits (‘Thila’). These ‘Batebas’ are placed in special shrines and receive sacrificial offerings. They are thought to protect against witches, illness and every form of evil.
The present standing, male ‘Bateba Phuwe figure’, in typical Lobi style carved from hard wood, is visibly very old. Along its hair parting, it is decorated with a cowrie shell and with a two-stranded necklace of red jequirity beans. It displays minimal, old breakages on the lower edge, as well as a convincing, partially encrusted and shiny patina through many years of use.
Height: 19 cm.
First third of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian collection.
Lit.:
‘Lobi’ by Daniela Bognolo, ill. 21, 22, 33, 33c.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
20.02.2017 - 14:00
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 450.-
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 360.-
Lobi, Burkina Faso: a small, standing, male figure, called ‘Bateba Puhwe’. Decorated with a cowry shell and red jequirity beans. Old and with good patina.
Amongst the Lobi in the south-west of Burkina Faso, such figures are carved at the instruction of priests, soothsayers and healers; they are supposed to serve as temporary ‘residences’ for the invisible spirits (‘Thila’). These ‘Batebas’ are placed in special shrines and receive sacrificial offerings. They are thought to protect against witches, illness and every form of evil.
The present standing, male ‘Bateba Phuwe figure’, in typical Lobi style carved from hard wood, is visibly very old. Along its hair parting, it is decorated with a cowrie shell and with a two-stranded necklace of red jequirity beans. It displays minimal, old breakages on the lower edge, as well as a convincing, partially encrusted and shiny patina through many years of use.
Height: 19 cm.
First third of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian collection.
Lit.:
‘Lobi’ by Daniela Bognolo, ill. 21, 22, 33, 33c.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 20.02.2017 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 11.02. - 20.02.2017 |
** Purchase price incl. charges and taxes
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