No. 102405168

Sold
A bone sculpture - Ewe - Togo  (No reserve price)
Final bid
€ 142
No reserve price
10 weeks ago

A bone sculpture - Ewe - Togo (No reserve price)

A female Ewe bone sculpture, South-East Togo, village Aklakou. Among the Ewe people of southeastern Togo, small sculptural objects carved from bone represent a minor but distinctive category of portable ritual or personal items. Examples associated with the coastal and lagoon areas around the village of Aklakou reflect local carving traditions influenced by broader Ewe and coastal artistic practices. Ewe bone sculptures from this region are generally small and slender, with elongated vertical proportions and simplified anatomical structure. The body is often rendered as a narrow cylindrical shaft, while arms may appear as short lateral projections or remain only lightly indicated. Legs are frequently fused or minimally separated, reinforcing the compact vertical form. A regional characteristic is the clear articulation of the head, which is usually slightly enlarged relative to the body. Facial features tend to be rendered with fine incisions: eyes appear as small circular or oval cuts, the nose as a straight triangular ridge, and the mouth as a short horizontal line. In some examples, incised scarification marks or linear motifs are placed on the temples or cheeks. Hair or head ornamentation may be suggested through parallel grooves or small geometric patterns across the crown, reflecting stylized coiffures common in Ewe visual culture. The surface is typically smoothly polished, producing a pale ivory or yellowish patina characteristic of worked bone. Overall, sculptures from the Aklakou area emphasize linear elegance, reduced anatomical detail, and careful surface finishing, reflecting the small-scale carving techniques practiced in southeastern Togo. CAB37886

No. 102405168

Sold
A bone sculpture - Ewe - Togo  (No reserve price)

A bone sculpture - Ewe - Togo (No reserve price)

A female Ewe bone sculpture, South-East Togo, village Aklakou.

Among the Ewe people of southeastern Togo, small sculptural objects carved from bone represent a minor but distinctive category of portable ritual or personal items. Examples associated with the coastal and lagoon areas around the village of Aklakou reflect local carving traditions influenced by broader Ewe and coastal artistic practices.

Ewe bone sculptures from this region are generally small and slender, with elongated vertical proportions and simplified anatomical structure. The body is often rendered as a narrow cylindrical shaft, while arms may appear as short lateral projections or remain only lightly indicated. Legs are frequently fused or minimally separated, reinforcing the compact vertical form.

A regional characteristic is the clear articulation of the head, which is usually slightly enlarged relative to the body. Facial features tend to be rendered with fine incisions: eyes appear as small circular or oval cuts, the nose as a straight triangular ridge, and the mouth as a short horizontal line. In some examples, incised scarification marks or linear motifs are placed on the temples or cheeks.

Hair or head ornamentation may be suggested through parallel grooves or small geometric patterns across the crown, reflecting stylized coiffures common in Ewe visual culture. The surface is typically smoothly polished, producing a pale ivory or yellowish patina characteristic of worked bone.

Overall, sculptures from the Aklakou area emphasize linear elegance, reduced anatomical detail, and careful surface finishing, reflecting the small-scale carving techniques practiced in southeastern Togo.

CAB37886

Final bid
€ 142
No reserve price
Dimitri André
Expert
Estimate € 210 - € 250

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