An extremely rare Senufo fertility guardian statue couple, collected in the region of Boundiali, standing on a domed base, the short legs slightly bent, a loincloth that only hangs over the buttocks, the female and the male genitalia indicated in detail, but the female breasts symbolically minimised and situated on the neck which is carved in rings, an elongated head with disc-shaped ears, long nose, narrow mouth and closed eyes, the hair designed as three prongs, red twine with cowrie shells on the ears and a necklace of beads or tubes around the neck; dark brown patina. Signs of age and use. Certificate of origin and provenance.

We are showing this guardian sculpture couple, which is a modified form of masks called degélé, for the first time in our gallery and we know of no other example. The masks only existed for a very limited time among the fodombélé, a small language group of the Senufo. Our Guaridian sculptures are fertility statues.

"Auf einer hohen Kalotte mit einer rechteckigen Öffnung, am unteren Rand steht jewils eine armlose männliche oder weibliche Statuette auf kurzen Beinen. Die Körper sind mit tiefen, rundumlaufenden Kerben versehen. Das erste Paar brachte Maesen 1939 nach Europa, ohne ihren Namen und Näheres über ihren Gebrauch erfahren zu haben. Zur Zeit des Massa-Kultes wurden ebenfalls weitere Exemplare aufgefunden. Insgesamt dürften kaum mehr als etwa 15 Exemplare in den öffentlichen und privaten Sammlungen existieren - davon nur wenige als Paar. Am bekanntesten ist das Paar im Museum Rietberg und das männliche Einzelstück der Sammlung Barbier/Mueller (Abb. Seite 217)." Quelle: B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, Band 2, 2007, S. 191.

Translation to English: "On a high calotte with a rectangular opening, at the lower edge stands an armless male or female statuette on short legs. The bodies are carved with deep, all-round notches. Maesen brought the first pair to Europe in 1939 without having learnt their names or details of their use. Further examples were also found at the time of the Massa cult. In total, there are probably no more than around 15 examples in public and private collections - of which only a few exist as a pair. The best known are the pair in the Rietberg Museum and the single male specimen in the Barbier/Mueller collection (ill. page 217)." Source: B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, vol. 2, 2007, p. 191.

Lit.: Burkhard Gottschalk, Senufo. Massa und die Statuen des Poro, 2002; Staatliche Museen der Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin, Die Kunst der Senufo, Elfenbeinküste. Mit einem Beitrag von Till Förster, 1990; Museum Rietberg Zürich, Die Kunst der Senufo aus Schweizer Sammlungen, 1988; Susan Elizabeth Gagliardi, Senufo unbound. Dynamics of art and identity in West Africa, Cleveland 2015, no. 121. B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, vol. 2, 2007, p. 191, 216,217.

Height: 75 cm, the male is 76 cm
Weight: 4 kg, the male is 4,4 kg


Source: B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, vol. 2, 2007, p. 217

Source: B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, vol. 2, 2007, p. 216 (last photo sequence).

An extremely rare Senufo fertility guardian statue couple, collected in the region of Boundiali, standing on a domed base, the short legs slightly bent, a loincloth that only hangs over the buttocks, the female and the male genitalia indicated in detail, but the female breasts symbolically minimised and situated on the neck which is carved in rings, an elongated head with disc-shaped ears, long nose, narrow mouth and closed eyes, the hair designed as three prongs, red twine with cowrie shells on the ears and a necklace of beads or tubes around the neck; dark brown patina. Signs of age and use. Certificate of origin and provenance.

We are showing this guardian sculpture couple, which is a modified form of masks called degélé, for the first time in our gallery and we know of no other example. The masks only existed for a very limited time among the fodombélé, a small language group of the Senufo. Our Guaridian sculptures are fertility statues.

"Auf einer hohen Kalotte mit einer rechteckigen Öffnung, am unteren Rand steht jewils eine armlose männliche oder weibliche Statuette auf kurzen Beinen. Die Körper sind mit tiefen, rundumlaufenden Kerben versehen. Das erste Paar brachte Maesen 1939 nach Europa, ohne ihren Namen und Näheres über ihren Gebrauch erfahren zu haben. Zur Zeit des Massa-Kultes wurden ebenfalls weitere Exemplare aufgefunden. Insgesamt dürften kaum mehr als etwa 15 Exemplare in den öffentlichen und privaten Sammlungen existieren - davon nur wenige als Paar. Am bekanntesten ist das Paar im Museum Rietberg und das männliche Einzelstück der Sammlung Barbier/Mueller (Abb. Seite 217)." Quelle: B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, Band 2, 2007, S. 191.

Translation to English: "On a high calotte with a rectangular opening, at the lower edge stands an armless male or female statuette on short legs. The bodies are carved with deep, all-round notches. Maesen brought the first pair to Europe in 1939 without having learnt their names or details of their use. Further examples were also found at the time of the Massa cult. In total, there are probably no more than around 15 examples in public and private collections - of which only a few exist as a pair. The best known are the pair in the Rietberg Museum and the single male specimen in the Barbier/Mueller collection (ill. page 217)." Source: B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, vol. 2, 2007, p. 191.

Lit.: Burkhard Gottschalk, Senufo. Massa und die Statuen des Poro, 2002; Staatliche Museen der Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin, Die Kunst der Senufo, Elfenbeinküste. Mit einem Beitrag von Till Förster, 1990; Museum Rietberg Zürich, Die Kunst der Senufo aus Schweizer Sammlungen, 1988; Susan Elizabeth Gagliardi, Senufo unbound. Dynamics of art and identity in West Africa, Cleveland 2015, no. 121. B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, vol. 2, 2007, p. 191, 216,217.

Height: 75 cm, the male is 76 cm
Weight: 4 kg, the male is 4,4 kg


Source: B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, vol. 2, 2007, p. 217

Source: B. Gottschalk, Kunst aus Schwarzafrika, vol. 2, 2007, p. 216 (last photo sequence).

Ethnic group/ culture
Senufo
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Height
76 cm
Weight
8.4 kg

1189 reviews (426 in last 12 months)
  1. 418
  2. 4
  3. 4

Sculpture arrived very well packaged, in perfect condition, and exactly as described. It's a beautiful piece & I'm delighted to have it - thank you so much

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user-a41135914ac3

Great mask, very friendly seller. Very well packed!

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fhcdejongh

Prima! Zeer tevreden. Doch invoering van referentie nr. XBD 154350 via jullie site levert geen resultaat op. Graag correcte info. Dank

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josvo

Mooi item ontvangen! Netjes verpakt met een persoonlijke kaart en cataloguscode. Prima levering.

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user-a8dfa8a0f59f

mooi en bijzonder voorwerp, wederom veel dank, zowel voor het voorwerp als voor het verpakken ervan.

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Quanjin

Beautiful object and superb packaging and delivery

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user-e1a8bae

Diesmal hat die Lieferung zwar erstaunlich lange gedauert. Aber das Objekt ist top, wie beschrieben, sehr ansprechend. Und wie immer optimal verpackt.

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user-0ccdb359bde3

Descrição exata. Cuidado de enviar certificado de autenticidade da peça. Recomendo

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joaom68

Thank you so much for this exeptional piece. I'm so pleased with it.

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user-6725475324b6

always a pleasure, excellent items, professional seller, thank you

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jan55diemen

Everything is very good, I sincerely recommend

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user-64a24ad60f5f

TOP verpackt, TOP Ware. Vielen lieben Dank

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user-1d3fc94

Monnaie Chamba reçue. Merci. Paul Giro

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Leiachat

I am very happy with the item received from this seller and his professionalism! Please, don't hesitate to buy from this person!

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user-56d9fb868853

very good as always. very well packed really. ( oh I left you a private message I don't know if you saw it)

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user-62c4a03f7f3e

Objet envoyé dans une boîte à chaussures de récupération donc gratuite avec un peu de papiers à l'intérieur de rembourrage. Objet et boîte très légers pour un coût d'envoi de 29€. Pas honnête du tout.

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user-0411134677ab
Seller's response

The customer wanted a particularly small box. Naturally, I informed the despatch department of this request. As we don't have any boxes in this mini size, a colleague collected a new, unused shoe box from the shoe shop opposite especially for the customer. Our shipping price of 29 euros is an average calculation. This price includes: Postage, packaging material, payment for the packer and insurance up to 10,000 euros. In this way, we offer an excellent insurance service that is unrivalled, because we do not sell tourist goods, but art. With kind regards, Patricia Winheim

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1189 reviews (426 in last 12 months)
  1. 418
  2. 4
  3. 4