Ancestor figure - Mahafaly - Madagascar - Head of a gravestone

MF117 head part of a gravestone of the Sakalava, death bird Lolo, circa 1960, Belo Sur Tsiribihina region, height 35 cm, width 13 cm, depth 7 cm, 870 g
The southern peoples do not perform the tradition of burying the dead as in the highlands. The Sakalava maintain contact with the deceased through ceremonial communication in trance (tromba). This is a significant event and very mysterious, as the participants are formally 'possessed,' and at the same time, there is a washing of relics (fitampoha). The importance of the relics is high, but they are quickly lost again, because the soul of the deceased ultimately enters into unity with the creator god, and contact is broken. This happens according to the interpretation of the 'sorcerer' or upon the instructions of family elders. Afterwards, the sculptures and the grave are neglected, or they change owners and are also sold.
Islamic religious influences lead to the belief in bird beings and death birds called Ziny (Arabic for Djinns), which can become places of soul spirits and are thus found in many AloAlo of the southern tribes. The Malagasy names for the Ziny are 'Lolo'. At burial sites, these artworks are usually left alone, emphasizing the transience of life. The dry climate preserves the wood quite well for a long time, but the elements leave their marks on the sculptures.
Unfortunately, this sacred bird is missing its beak, but since the break point is just as weathered as the rest of the torso, it is assumed that it was broken off shortly after it was erected. The dry climate preserves the wood quite well over time, but the elements leave their marks on the sculptures. The extremely hard tropical wood has eroded over decades of outdoor exposure, and the rare rain and intense sun have created erosion cracks in the corpus. Remnants of the originally blue paint can still be seen. However, the wood is neither brittle nor decayed. This gives the object a special aura and a certain mystique.
The genuine AloAlo are a artistic rarity because the ancestor cult, which originates from Papa Neuginea, found only in Madagascar in these steles a physical expression worldwide. The export of cultural property / antiques is strictly limited in Madagascar. Our old originals have been in family possession since 1975 and, due to their increasing collector value, also represent a fruitful investment.
This item is suitable for standard insured parcel shipping and will be carefully and break-proof packed by us.