Old Wooden Statuette Lobi Burkina Faso Tribal Art African Art First Art

Standing male figure, camped on sturdy legs with marked joints. The arm raised towards the sky brings a dynamic of interesting lines, while the chest in slight relief harmoniously structures the bust. The face, characterized by an open mouth in a deep furrow and narrowed eyes, expresses a restrained intensity. The head is surmounted by an ovoid skull, giving the whole a particular presence. Wood with an old brown patina, slightly thick in places, bearing traces of white pigments. Some marks of erosion under the feet testify to its antiquity, but the whole is in good condition (see photos). Lobi, Burkina Faso Period: early 20th century 21 X 13.5 cm Provenance: former Brussels collection Sold with base and certificate of authenticity from the expert Serge Reynes *Shipping costs on estimate The Lobi live in the southwest of Burkina Faso, as well as in Ivory Coast and Ghana. This animist people organizes its spiritual life around protective entities called thila, in close connection with ancestors and invisible forces. Bateba sculptures, like this figure, are designed to embody mediators between men and spirits. The raised arm could represent an invocation or an interaction in a ritual setting, emphasizing the spiritual role of this object in the daily and religious life of the Lobi.