Lotto No. 11


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. - Tribal Art

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.

Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465

erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at

20.02.2017 - 14:00

Prezzo realizzato: **
EUR 450,-
Prezzo di partenza:
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.

Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465

erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at


Hotline dell'acquirente lun-ven: 10.00 - 17.00
kundendienst@dorotheum.at

+43 1 515 60 200
Asta: Tribal Art
Tipo d'asta: Asta in sala
Data: 20.02.2017 - 14:00
Luogo dell'asta: Wien | Palais Dorotheum
Esposizione: 11.02. - 20.02.2017


** Prezzo d'acquisto comprensivo di tassa di vendita e IVA

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