Statue "bateba" - Lobi - Burkina Faso
02
days
21
hours
25
minutes
45
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
No bids placed
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Description from the seller
Burkina Faso
Lobi
Wood
Dimensions:
Height: 290 mm
Width: 80 mm
Depth: 75 mm
I. Origin and Stylistic Characteristics
This wooden statuette, 29 cm tall, heavily eroded and patinated, presents the stylistic and ritual characteristics of the artistic productions of the Lobi people, established mainly in Burkina Faso, as well as at the borders of Ivory Coast and Ghana.
This sculpture is a representative example of Brutalist and expressionist art of the Lobi. Several visible elements confirm this origin:
• Overall morphology: A voluminous, ovoid head, a columnar torso with a protruding navel of pointed shape, and short, massive lower limbs ending in broad feet carved in blocks.
• Facial treatment: Minimalist and vigorous features with eyes and lips sculpted in slight relief, as well as an application of dark pigment or black resin covering the entire front face of the skull.
• Asymmetric arm posture: The left arm extends downward and backward to rest directly on the hip, while the right arm is broken at the shoulder. Among the Lobi, atypical postures (raised arms, arms behind the back, asymmetry) are not incidental: they respond to specific ritual demands.
• Condition of the wood: The dried, ravined surface marked by deep longitudinal cracks testifies to great antiquity and prolonged exposure to the elements as well as to sacrificial libations.
II. Function and Ritual Use
In Lobi culture, this statuette is called a Bateba. Far from being a simple aesthetic object, the bateba is considered a living and sacred being, a direct intermediary between the human world and the forest spirits called the Thila (singular: Thil).
• The diviner’s injunction: The creation of such a statuette is always ordered by a diviner (thildar). It is he who dictates the particular posture and the object's role to respond to a specific problem faced by a family (illness, poor harvest, need for protection).
• Protection of the domestic altar: Once carved, it is placed on the family altar of the sanctuary (thilduo). Its main mission is to materialize the presence of the spirits in order to repel sorcery, diseases, and malevolent intentions.
• A spiritual shield: The unique position of the arms (here the folded arm placed behind the back) often symbolizes vigilance, counter-attack, or the action of “blocking” passage to negative influences. Bateba are designed to actively intercept evil on behalf of their owners.
Fast and secure shipping. Packages are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union via Chronopost International. Delivery via Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide.
We speak English.
Mask African art African mask art Arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art African statue art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane African mask art
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateBurkina Faso
Lobi
Wood
Dimensions:
Height: 290 mm
Width: 80 mm
Depth: 75 mm
I. Origin and Stylistic Characteristics
This wooden statuette, 29 cm tall, heavily eroded and patinated, presents the stylistic and ritual characteristics of the artistic productions of the Lobi people, established mainly in Burkina Faso, as well as at the borders of Ivory Coast and Ghana.
This sculpture is a representative example of Brutalist and expressionist art of the Lobi. Several visible elements confirm this origin:
• Overall morphology: A voluminous, ovoid head, a columnar torso with a protruding navel of pointed shape, and short, massive lower limbs ending in broad feet carved in blocks.
• Facial treatment: Minimalist and vigorous features with eyes and lips sculpted in slight relief, as well as an application of dark pigment or black resin covering the entire front face of the skull.
• Asymmetric arm posture: The left arm extends downward and backward to rest directly on the hip, while the right arm is broken at the shoulder. Among the Lobi, atypical postures (raised arms, arms behind the back, asymmetry) are not incidental: they respond to specific ritual demands.
• Condition of the wood: The dried, ravined surface marked by deep longitudinal cracks testifies to great antiquity and prolonged exposure to the elements as well as to sacrificial libations.
II. Function and Ritual Use
In Lobi culture, this statuette is called a Bateba. Far from being a simple aesthetic object, the bateba is considered a living and sacred being, a direct intermediary between the human world and the forest spirits called the Thila (singular: Thil).
• The diviner’s injunction: The creation of such a statuette is always ordered by a diviner (thildar). It is he who dictates the particular posture and the object's role to respond to a specific problem faced by a family (illness, poor harvest, need for protection).
• Protection of the domestic altar: Once carved, it is placed on the family altar of the sanctuary (thilduo). Its main mission is to materialize the presence of the spirits in order to repel sorcery, diseases, and malevolent intentions.
• A spiritual shield: The unique position of the arms (here the folded arm placed behind the back) often symbolizes vigilance, counter-attack, or the action of “blocking” passage to negative influences. Bateba are designed to actively intercept evil on behalf of their owners.
Fast and secure shipping. Packages are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union via Chronopost International. Delivery via Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide.
We speak English.
Mask African art African mask art Arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art African statue art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane African mask art
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Statue "bateba"
Ethnic group/ culture
Lobi
Country of Origin
Burkina Faso
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Sold by
