Male Statuette, Antique Wood, Lobi Burkina Faso, First Half Of The 20th Century, African Tribal Art

Male statuette presenting a standing figure, camped on slender legs. The arms with angular features follow the line of the bust, the hands placed on the edge of his penis in a symbolic gesture. The chest is marked, the torso rounded, the shoulders straight. The face, with the shaved head, displays a beautiful youthful expression; the closed mouth and the half-closed eyes give it an alert and welcoming presence. Hard wood, old localized erosion of time, brown patina and remains of earthy deposits in places, small lateral crack. Marks of use and time, good general condition of conservation (see photos). Lobi, Burkina Faso, first half of the 20th century dimensions: 33.5 × 8 cm with base: 35 cm provenance: former Belgian collection Sold with certificate of authenticity from the expert Serge Reynes, guarantee of origin and period. * Shipping costs upon request. "The male bateba figures carved by the Lobi represented protective entities linked to the spirit world. Their gestures and posture were often codified by traditions transmitted by the diviner or the blacksmith. The position of the hands on the genitals, in this specific case, can be interpreted as an affirmation of vitality, fertility, or symbolic power."