Sling With A Figure Of A Seated Woman

Culture: Lobi, Burkina Faso
Period: First half of the 20th century
Materials: Wood with patina from use and pigments
Dimensions: 16.5 × 6.5 cm

Description

A rare slingshot carved from a single block of wood, with a handle topped by a female figure seated on an openwork four-legged stool. The young woman assumes a calm and solemn posture, her hands resting on her thighs, while her face—with stylized features—is dominated by a remarkable braided hairstyle rendered in relief, partially accented with black pigments.

The sculptor has elegantly rendered the body’s forms—the ringed neck, circular ears, and hairstyle—all characteristic of Lobi statuary from the first half of the 20th century. The beautiful patina of use—deep and lustrous—bears witness to long-term handling and lends this piece a truly ethnographic character.

Beyond its utilitarian function as a slingshot intended for hunting small game, this object illustrates the attention paid by Lobi artisans to everyday objects, which are frequently transformed into true miniature sculptures.

Price: €1,250