Losso Sculpture – Northern Region, Togo, incl stand. The towering wooden figure combines strict verticality with a reserved, yet haunting physicality. A narrow, elongated torso rises on strong, slightly bent legs; the arms hang down almost parallel to the body. The disproportionate, oval head shows reduced facial features: a prominent nose, an incised mouth and eyes whose bright inlays accentuate the look. There is a braided fiber binding around the waist, possibly indicating ritual activation or clothing. The dark, irregular patina, cracks and traces of abrasion give the surface a distinct material depth. The Losso, also called Nawdba, live primarily in the north of Togo, especially in the area around what is now the Kara region. Her sculpture is comparatively little documented; Well-known figures are often characterized by simplified body shapes, reserved facial features and traces of ritual treatment. In this cultural space, plastic images were not primarily autonomous art objects, but could be integrated into relationships between the living, ancestors and spiritual forces. However, a specific function of the present figure cannot be determined with certainty without a documented collection context. Literature (selection) Pierre Amrouche: Corps & Décors. Statuaire Lamba and Losso du Togo. Paris 2008. J.-C. Froelich: Les populations du Northern Togo. Paris 1963. Hans Himmelheber: Negro art and Negro artists. Braunschweig 1960. Some of the information is generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history. Inv. No. MAZ23529