Tussian Diviner's Ring, Burkina Faso, 19th Century Or Earlier.

A divination ring featuring a humanized buffalo head with a strongly projecting muzzle, triangular and cubist in form, lending the piece a powerful graphic presence. The widely spread horns and the center of the forehead are surmounted by three stylized birds, delicately and elegantly placed, creating a highly original composition. The formal interpretation varies depending on the angle: from the front, the object evokes a hieratic face; from above, a stylized mask dominated by an open triangular mouth, accentuating its symbolic character. The head rests on a circular base with concentric decoration, while the carrying ring, adorned with concentric motifs, reinforces the visual balance and the mastery of the modeling. Bronze with a brown patina, signs of use and age, good overall condition, see photos. Tussian, Burkina Faso, 19th century or earlier. Dimensions: 6 × 5 × 4.5 cm. With base: H. 7.8 cm. Provenance: private collection, Paris. Sold with stand, invoice from the Ocarina gallery, and certificate of authenticity from expert Serge Reynes. * Free shipping within France; shipping to other destinations available upon request. "This ring is part of the divination practices of the Tussian people, who live in the wooded savanna region of southwestern Burkina Faso. The buffalo holds a major symbolic place there, associated with strength, mastery, and the protection of the group, while the birds evoke the ability to mediate between the visible and invisible worlds. Worn by the diviner during ritual consultations, this ring contributed to the staging of his spiritual authority. The combination of the buffalo and the three birds reveals a structured symbolic thought, reflecting the alliance between earthly power and spiritual guidance, within a highly modern formal aesthetic."