Tussian "birdman" Pendant, Burkina Faso. 19th Century Or Earlier.

Pendant depicting a standing bird-man figure, poised on slender, elegant legs. One hand rests on the lower back while the other accompanies the beak in a symbolic gesture. The face, with its sculpted, projecting, bulging eyes, extends into a mouth transformed into a hornbill's beak. At the rear, a radiating tail structures the silhouette and accentuates the figure's verticality. A concentric ring bail at the back secures the pendant. Bronze with a reddish-green patina, showing signs of wear and age, in good overall condition, see photos. Tussian, Burkina Faso. 19th century or earlier. Dimensions: 8.3 × 2.9 cm. Provenance: private collection, Paris. Sold with an invoice from Galerie Ocarina and a certificate of authenticity from the expert Serge Reines. * Free shipping within France, quote available for other destinations. "Among the Tussian people, the hornbill holds a major symbolic place, associated with vigilance and the role of mediator between the visible world and the spiritual sphere. This hybrid figure reflects a conception where man is in continuity with the animal, in a refined aesthetic that prioritizes the graphic power and legibility of the symbol."