Pair of statues - Lobi - Mali
05
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Burkina Faso
Lobi
Wood
Dimensions:
The little figure: from the left, height: 315 mm, width: 60 mm, depth: 45 mm
The large figure: height: 445 mm, width: 85 mm, depth: 95 mm
Small figure: missing feet
Big figure: missing a leg
1. Origin and stylistic analysis: Two distinct pieces
Visual examination shows that this is not a pair of ancestors carved by the same hand, but two objects with different functions and styles.
The left statuette (31 cm): A classic Lobi Bateba
Morphology: It is a standing male figure with fully unclothed anatomy. It bears the distinctive features of Lobi statuary: an oval head, a long straight nose, protruding ears, and a grave expression. The arms frame the torso in a hieratic manner and the hands rest discreetly on the tops of the thighs.
Patina: It presents a light, matte, dried surface, characteristic of wood exposed to the dry savanna air or on an interior altar.
The right sculpture (44 cm): A sanctuary stake or pole figure
Morphology: This piece radically breaks from the first. The body of the statue is not differentiated: it is reduced to a long raw wooden shaft, faceted vertically with a rasp, ending in a rough base (appearing broken or intended to be planted in the earth). Only the head is carved at the top, bearing a stylized face with eyes outlined by a double ridge and large rectangular ears.
Cultural affinity: This type of anthropomorphic statue on a stake or “fetish pole” is found among the Lobi, but also very commonly among their neighbors the Moba (Togo/Burkina Faso, under the name Chidigo) or Oron/Ekoi in contexts of ritual poles. It represents a form of radically sacred abstraction.
2. Ritual use: Intercession and grounding at the sanctuary
These two objects were designed to occupy the spiritual heart of the traditional home (the soukhala) or of an outdoor sanctuary:
The role of the Bateba (on the left): Among the Lobi, this piece is commissioned to a sculptor by a diviner to materialize a bush spirit (Thil). Placed on the family altar, it serves as an invisible sentinel to absorb illness, counter curses, and intercept attacks by sorcerers.
The role of the anthropomorphic stake (on the right): The stake or column structure of the large piece indicates a foundation or anchoring function. These pieces were either planted directly in the soil of the sacred courtyard or inserted into the middle of a mound of earth and sacrificial clay forming the clan’s main altar. Libations of millet beer or bloody sacrifices were regularly poured there to honor the residing entity.
3. Meaning: Protection of the family territory
Although morphologically very different, these two sculptures share the same metaphysical purpose within the Voltaique-speaking societies:
A shield against disorder: For these peoples, the bush world is populated by invisible forces potentially dangerous. Introducing these figures into the domestic space helps domesticate these forces to turn them into allies.
Dialog with the invisible: Together or placed on the same altar space, the figurative statuette and the pole-figure form a communication focal point. They remind of the absolute dependence of the living on the decrees of protective spirits and the memory of the place’s founders, thereby ensuring health, offspring, and household peace.
The parcels are shipped Monday through Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery by Chronopost between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and the whole world by Colissimo International.
We speak English.
mask, African art, African mask art
African mask art
African mask art
arte de máscaras africanas
arte delle maschere africane
Arte de estatuas africanas
arte delle statue africane
African mask art
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:
The little figure: from the left, height: 315 mm, width: 60 mm, depth: 45 mm
The large figure: height: 445 mm, width: 85 mm, depth: 95 mm
Small figure: missing feet
Big figure: missing a leg
1. Origin and stylistic analysis: Two distinct pieces
Visual examination shows that this is not a pair of ancestors carved by the same hand, but two objects with different functions and styles.
The left statuette (31 cm): A classic Lobi Bateba
Morphology: It is a standing male figure with fully unclothed anatomy. It bears the distinctive features of Lobi statuary: an oval head, a long straight nose, protruding ears, and a grave expression. The arms frame the torso in a hieratic manner and the hands rest discreetly on the tops of the thighs.
Patina: It presents a light, matte, dried surface, characteristic of wood exposed to the dry savanna air or on an interior altar.
The right sculpture (44 cm): A sanctuary stake or pole figure
Morphology: This piece radically breaks from the first. The body of the statue is not differentiated: it is reduced to a long raw wooden shaft, faceted vertically with a rasp, ending in a rough base (appearing broken or intended to be planted in the earth). Only the head is carved at the top, bearing a stylized face with eyes outlined by a double ridge and large rectangular ears.
Cultural affinity: This type of anthropomorphic statue on a stake or “fetish pole” is found among the Lobi, but also very commonly among their neighbors the Moba (Togo/Burkina Faso, under the name Chidigo) or Oron/Ekoi in contexts of ritual poles. It represents a form of radically sacred abstraction.
2. Ritual use: Intercession and grounding at the sanctuary
These two objects were designed to occupy the spiritual heart of the traditional home (the soukhala) or of an outdoor sanctuary:
The role of the Bateba (on the left): Among the Lobi, this piece is commissioned to a sculptor by a diviner to materialize a bush spirit (Thil). Placed on the family altar, it serves as an invisible sentinel to absorb illness, counter curses, and intercept attacks by sorcerers.
The role of the anthropomorphic stake (on the right): The stake or column structure of the large piece indicates a foundation or anchoring function. These pieces were either planted directly in the soil of the sacred courtyard or inserted into the middle of a mound of earth and sacrificial clay forming the clan’s main altar. Libations of millet beer or bloody sacrifices were regularly poured there to honor the residing entity.
3. Meaning: Protection of the family territory
Although morphologically very different, these two sculptures share the same metaphysical purpose within the Voltaique-speaking societies:
A shield against disorder: For these peoples, the bush world is populated by invisible forces potentially dangerous. Introducing these figures into the domestic space helps domesticate these forces to turn them into allies.
Dialog with the invisible: Together or placed on the same altar space, the figurative statuette and the pole-figure form a communication focal point. They remind of the absolute dependence of the living on the decrees of protective spirits and the memory of the place’s founders, thereby ensuring health, offspring, and household peace.
The parcels are shipped Monday through Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery by Chronopost between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and the whole world by Colissimo International.
We speak English.
mask, African art, African mask art
African mask art
African mask art
arte de máscaras africanas
arte delle maschere africane
Arte de estatuas africanas
arte delle statue africane
African mask art
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
Pair of statues
Ethnic group/ culture
Lobi
Country of Origin
Mali
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Sold by
