Description
Doll (1) - Leather, Wood - Janus Biga fertility "doll" - Mossi - Burkina Faso
1st half 20th century - Excellent condition, barely used with minimal signs of wear
Ex private collection - Paris - France
1st half 20th century
dim: 32x4x6.5cm
weight: 0.3kg
Very rare (the whole body AND the heads are still covered by leather) "Janus" Biga fertility doll from the Mossy ethnic group
A cylindrical, elongated body whose only relief is the breast surmounted by a small face with a crested cap.
The Mossi doll, Biiga, has a complex symbolism in African tribal art and different functions at first sight contradictory: for the little girl she is at the same time the power that will make her get a child and the baby that she learns to care. Biiga goes from mother to daughter or sister to sister. These dolls accompany them during the initiation and after the wedding.
Lot details
- Total nr of items
- 1
- Object
- Doll
- Indigenous object name
- Janus Biga fertility "doll"
- Ethnic group/ culture
- Mossi
- Region/ country
- Burkina Faso
- Material
- Leather, Wood
- Period
- 1st half 20th century
- Condition
- Excellent condition, barely used with minimal signs of wear
- Sold with stand
- No
- Dimensions
- 32×4×6.5 cm
- Weight
- 0.3 kg