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African art tribal maternity figure, Lobi peoples Ghana - Ivory Coast

circa 1950

$383.65
£280
€326.60
CA$525.50
A$584.47
CHF 305.19
MX$7,112.39
NOK 3,897.77
SEK 3,655.42
DKK 2,437.58
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About the Item

A delightful African maternity figure from the Lobi peoples of the Ivory Coast/Ghana. With a serene yet feisty expression, the mother is carrying the baby on her hip. According to Daniela Bognolo's reference work "Lobi" (Milan 2007) : "The female figure carrying a child is used in magical practices to drive off an evil spirit that is dangerous for a pregnant woman. The fact of ritually ‘’tying’’ the object to the woman makes a link between her pregnancy and the carved image of her future motherhood so that the evil spirit will enter the object instead of her womb." In addition to the function mentioned above, maternity figures are also seen as magically boosting fertility and combatting sterility. Our antique and authentic example has lovely provenance: it was field collected by François Rivière, a French entomologist and tribal art collector whilst working in West Africa.
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1950
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7.88 in (20 cm)Width: 2.76 in (7 cm)Depth: 2.37 in (6 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Old tension cracks and minor losses as visible on the photos. Unmounted.
  • Gallery Location:
    Norwich, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU99134786081

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