Statue Deblé

Exceptional and rare Senufo "Déblé" statue, also called "Rythm Pounder"Heavy solid wood with a deep, crusty, shiny patina of use, height 118 cmRemains of red and black abrus seeds on the skull and on the elbows, and there must have been a belt of seeds under the navel, of which some traces remain
A very elongated face, cowries placed in the eyes, a nose and lips finely sculpted in relief, circular ears, a pronounced headdress, tribal scarifications on the breasts, forehead and around the navel, a hollowed dorsal ridge and globular hips, very short legs and a massive base serving as a pestleAn extremely pronounced shiny patina on the breasts, forehead, deeply hollowed female sex, around the arms also a dignitary's pectoral on the torso
This statue evokes the ideal woman, not only through her physical beauty, but also through her expression of moral, intellectual, and spiritual perfection.She served the "Poro" society, which trains individuals in courage, strength, truth, knowledge, obedience, endurance, and discipline of mind and body.Among the Senufo, the important events that mark the beginning and end of life are not physical birth and death, but rather the ritual opening and closing of life through initiation and commemorative funerals organized by the "Poro" society.
At funerals, the statue is brought in dancing, striking the ground to the rhythm of music, and then placed there as a guardian, watching over the site where the deceased's body is buried. This action encourages ancestral spirits to participate in the ceremony and helps the deceased reach the afterlife.Three other statues identical to this one are known;
One from the ARMAN collection, the other from the Héléna RUBINSTEIN collection, and the third is housed at the Dallas Museum of Art. They are attributed to the Master of Folona from the Sikasso region, northern Ivory Coast and southern Mali.It is very likely that the one I am offering you comes from the same place and is also by the same hand of the master or his workshop.
I emphasize the deep, glossy patina of use caused by repeated handling and touching, as well as the crusty patina in places with which it has been coated.A very fine collector's item that would be at home in a major museum. Free worldwide shipping.