A pair of figures from the Losso region of northern Togo This ensemble, consisting of two nearly mirror-image wooden figures, is characterized by a strictly vertical, deliberately reduced formal language. Slender, cylindrical bodies rest on long, slightly angled legs; small, closely held arms appear only as sculptural beginnings. The flattened, forward-tilting heads are particularly distinctive. Parallel incised lines cover their upper portions, lending a graphic tension to the otherwise barely defined faces. The dark brown, earthy surface, with its wear, cracks, and signs of use, reinforces the archaic character of the pair. The figures are attributed to the Losso/Nawdba cultural region of northern Togo. The sculptural traditions of the Losso and the neighboring Lamba are closely intertwined and often cannot be clearly distinguished stylistically. The known body of work includes both individual figures and pairs, ranging from strongly geometric to comparatively naturalistic forms. Comparable pairs with flat heads, heavy wood, and deep, used patina have been documented. In research, such figures are associated with ancestors, spiritual powers, and the care of deceased twins, among other things; however, their functions vary considerably according to local context. A specific ritual interpretation of the present pair therefore remains unclear without knowledge of its field provenance. Literature (selection): Pierre Amrouche: Corps & Décors. Statuaire Lamba et Losso du Togo. Paris 2008. Thomas Keller: Northern Togo Statuary. Lully 2018. Inv. No. MAZ25800 Height: 34 cm / 33 cm Weight: 500 g / 500 g (incl. stand)