"Androgynous Statue, Bambara People, Mali"
Statue representing a standing androgynous figure. The legs are slightly bent, firmly anchored in the ground. The male genitals and breasts are present. The statue bears scarifications above the breasts, on the back, on the cheeks and the forehead. The ears are pierced and must originally have worn earrings. The androgynous type brings us back to the creator god who possessed both genders. These statuettes were used during initiations to protect and teach cosmogony to young initiates.
Wood with a patina of use, crack.
Height: 41 cm
Bambara people, Mali
Mid-20th century
Provenance: former French private collection
Le Magazine de PROANTIC
TRÉSORS Magazine
Rivista Artiquariato