en træskulptur - Senufo - Elfenbenskysten (Ingen mindstepris)

The present figure is rooted in the cultural context of the Senufo people in northern Ivory Coast and adjacent regions of Mali and Burkina Faso, and belongs to the group of so-called Déblé figures. These large-scale sculptures are closely associated with Poro society and function as visual manifestations of collective values, spiritual authority, and initiatory order.

The standing figure is characterized by a pronounced verticality and formal tension. A complex, stylized form, reminiscent of a horse, rests on its head. The horse's body arches over the supporting figure, its mane flowing into its tail, forming a continuous, dynamic line. The incorporated face of the animal expands the iconographic dimension and alludes to symbolic relationships between humans, animals, and the spiritual realm.

The main figure's face is long and narrow, with closed eyes and an open mouth revealing a row of teeth. This combination creates an ambivalent expressiveness, poised between introspection and presence. Reduced ears and ornamental indentations on the face, chest, and navel structure the surface and allude to cultural codes.

The long neck and downward-pointing, pointed breasts emphasize the elongated body proportions. Ornamental bands on the upper arms and the attributes held in the hands - a staff-like object and a shield-like element - indicate status and function. The legs end without feet and are fixed to a base.

Patina and signs of wear attest to ritual use. In its complex formal language, the figure embodies a synthesis of aesthetic order and spiritual meaning.

Literature (Selection)

Glaze, Anita J.: Art and Death in a Senufo Village. Bloomington, 1981.
Goldwater, Robert: Senufo Sculpture from West Africa. New York, 1964.
Cole, Herbert M.: Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Washington, 1989.

Fischer, Eberhard: African Art. Munich, 2006.

CAB47719