A pair of statues - Lobi - Mali
02
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00
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€ 1
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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 small figure on 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: feet missing
Large figure: one leg missing
1. Origin and stylistic analysis: Two distinct pieces
Visual examination shows that these are not a pair of ancestors carved by the same hand, but two objects with different functions and styles.
The statuette on the left (31 cm): A classic Lobi Bateba
Morphology: This is a standing male figure with fully exposed anatomy. It displays the distinctive features of Lobi statuary: an oval head, a long, straight nose, protruding ears, and a solemn face. The arms frame the torso in a hieratic pose, and the hands rest discreetly on the upper thighs.
Patina: It has a light, matte, dry surface, characteristic of wood exposed to the dry savanna air or kept on an indoor altar.
The sculpture on the right (44 cm): A sanctuary stake or post figure
Morphology: This piece differs radically from the first. The statue's body is not articulated: it has been reduced to a long shaft of rough wood, carved with vertical facets using an adze, ending in a rough base (which appears broken or intended to be driven into the ground). Only the head is carved at the top, featuring a stylized face with eyes framed by a double ridge and large rectangular ears.
Cultural affinity: This type of anthropomorphic statuette mounted on a stake or “fetish post” is found among the Lobi, but also very frequently among their Moba neighbors (Togo/Burkina Faso, where it is called Chidigo) and the Oron/Ekoi in ritual post contexts. It represents a radical form of sacred abstraction.
2. Ritual use: Intercession and anchoring at the sanctuary
These two objects were designed to occupy the spiritual heart of the traditional house (the soukhala) or an outdoor sanctuary:
The role of the Bateba (on the left): Among the Lobi, this piece is commissioned from a sculptor at the direction of a diviner to embody a spirit of the bush (Thil). Placed on the family altar, it serves as an invisible sentinel to absorb illness, ward off spells, and intercept attacks by sorcerers.
The role of the anthropomorphic stake (on the right): The stake- or post-like structure of the larger piece indicates a foundational or anchoring function. These pieces were either planted directly in the ground of the sacred courtyard or placed in the middle of a mound of sacrificial earth and clay that formed the clan's main altar. Millet beer libations or blood sacrifices were regularly offered there to honor the entity that resided within.
3. Meaning: Protecting the family territory
Although they differ greatly in form, these two sculptures share the same metaphysical purpose within Voltaic societies:
A shield against disorder: For these peoples, the world of the bush is inhabited by invisible, potentially dangerous forces. Bringing these figures into the domestic space makes it possible to tame these forces and turn them into allies.
Dialogue with the invisible: When brought together or placed in the same altar space, the figurative statuette and the column-like post form a focal point for communication. They remind people of the living's absolute dependence on the decrees of protective spirits and the memory of the founders of the place, thereby ensuring the health, descendants, and peace of the household.
Parcels are shipped Monday through Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery via Chronopost takes 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide is via Colissimo International.
We speak English.
African mask art African mask art African mask art African mask art
African statue art African statue art African statue art 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 small figure on 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: feet missing
Large figure: one leg missing
1. Origin and stylistic analysis: Two distinct pieces
Visual examination shows that these are not a pair of ancestors carved by the same hand, but two objects with different functions and styles.
The statuette on the left (31 cm): A classic Lobi Bateba
Morphology: This is a standing male figure with fully exposed anatomy. It displays the distinctive features of Lobi statuary: an oval head, a long, straight nose, protruding ears, and a solemn face. The arms frame the torso in a hieratic pose, and the hands rest discreetly on the upper thighs.
Patina: It has a light, matte, dry surface, characteristic of wood exposed to the dry savanna air or kept on an indoor altar.
The sculpture on the right (44 cm): A sanctuary stake or post figure
Morphology: This piece differs radically from the first. The statue's body is not articulated: it has been reduced to a long shaft of rough wood, carved with vertical facets using an adze, ending in a rough base (which appears broken or intended to be driven into the ground). Only the head is carved at the top, featuring a stylized face with eyes framed by a double ridge and large rectangular ears.
Cultural affinity: This type of anthropomorphic statuette mounted on a stake or “fetish post” is found among the Lobi, but also very frequently among their Moba neighbors (Togo/Burkina Faso, where it is called Chidigo) and the Oron/Ekoi in ritual post contexts. It represents a radical form of sacred abstraction.
2. Ritual use: Intercession and anchoring at the sanctuary
These two objects were designed to occupy the spiritual heart of the traditional house (the soukhala) or an outdoor sanctuary:
The role of the Bateba (on the left): Among the Lobi, this piece is commissioned from a sculptor at the direction of a diviner to embody a spirit of the bush (Thil). Placed on the family altar, it serves as an invisible sentinel to absorb illness, ward off spells, and intercept attacks by sorcerers.
The role of the anthropomorphic stake (on the right): The stake- or post-like structure of the larger piece indicates a foundational or anchoring function. These pieces were either planted directly in the ground of the sacred courtyard or placed in the middle of a mound of sacrificial earth and clay that formed the clan's main altar. Millet beer libations or blood sacrifices were regularly offered there to honor the entity that resided within.
3. Meaning: Protecting the family territory
Although they differ greatly in form, these two sculptures share the same metaphysical purpose within Voltaic societies:
A shield against disorder: For these peoples, the world of the bush is inhabited by invisible, potentially dangerous forces. Bringing these figures into the domestic space makes it possible to tame these forces and turn them into allies.
Dialogue with the invisible: When brought together or placed in the same altar space, the figurative statuette and the column-like post form a focal point for communication. They remind people of the living's absolute dependence on the decrees of protective spirits and the memory of the founders of the place, thereby ensuring the health, descendants, and peace of the household.
Parcels are shipped Monday through Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery via Chronopost takes 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide is via Colissimo International.
We speak English.
African mask art African mask art African mask art African mask art
African statue art African statue art African statue art 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
A pair of statues
Ethnic group/ culture
Lobi
Country of Origin
Mali
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Sold by
