Kunst

Interieur en decoratie

Sieraden en edelstenen

Horloges, pennen en aanstekers

Fashion

Munten en postzegels

Strips en animatie

Oldtimers, klassieke motoren en automobilia

Wijn, whisky en gedistilleerde dranken

Aziatische en tribale kunst

Trading cards

Speelgoed en modellen

Archeologie en natuurlijke historie

Sport

Muziek, films en camera's

Boeken en historische memorabilia

De mooiste objecten gepresenteerd door {name}

Dimitri André

A couple of Losso fetish sculptures, Northern Togo, heavy encrusted patina, cowrie shells as eyes.

Losso bone sculptures are small ritual objects crafted by the Nawdba people (frequently referred to in older sources as “Losso”) inhabiting the Doufelgou District in the Kara Region of northern Togo. The term Di Kori (translated sometimes as “bone sons”) is used by some informants to denote certain bone dolls. These figures are made chiefly from cleaned animal bone—femur bones of sheep, pigs, or cattle are cited in collector descriptions—and may incorporate secondary materials such as glass beads, string or fiber, sometimes for suspension or ornamentation. The bone is shaped with simple tool work; holes are pierced at one end, enabling attachment of beads or string, or adornment by family members in accordance with customary ritual practice. When given to a girl, the Di Kori functions in symbolic roles, sometimes as a fertility charm, sometimes as a surrogate of child or companion, with ritual obligations surrounding its use. One account holds that at childbirth the fetish may be treated as a toy or as an object given to the child.
The scale of these bone objects is modest: typical dimensions noted in various collections are around 16‑20 centimetres in height, with narrow profile and light weight (bone being lighter than wood). The surfaces tend to be smooth but bear signs of handling; beads may show wear, bone may be slightly discoloured or polished by usage. These items are rarely monumental, being intimate in scale with residential or private ritual usage rather than public display or shrine sculpture.

In terms of cultural meaning, the Di Kori bone dolls appear linked to female fertility, childbearing, ritual transition, and protective functions. They are embedded in gendered ritual economies: the creation, gifting, and care of the bone figure involve elders, fathers, or female kin. They may mediate between the human world and spiritual or ancestral forces, though formal ethnographic documentation is scarce. Some sources suggest they also serve as teaching or identity objects for young girls, a way of engaging them in local normative ideals about family, reproduction, responsibility, and relationship to ancestors.
Stylistically these pieces are plain, their form often reduced: minimal carving, reliance on the inherent shape of the bone, few representational details beyond maybe bead ornament or small incisions. Ornamentation is secondary to symbolic content, which is carried by the material (bone), its associations (animal/ancestral), and its ritual status.

Chronologically many extant bone dolls are dated to the mid‑20th century; some are more recent (circa 1970s) according to collector labels. Their production may continue today in some form, though under pressure of modernization, changing belief systems, and economy. Ethnographic reporting tends to focus more on wooden Losso sculptures and fetish figures, so bone dolls remain less well documented, leaving many uncertainties about original provenance, ritual protocols, lifecycle of the object, and changes over time.

References:
Art‑Africain Traditionnel. “Doll ritual Di Kori – Losso – Togo (animal bones, beads, ritual use).” Privately held, French collection. Catalogue entry, c. 1970.
Berberia. “Losso. Di Kori ritual doll.” Collector’s catalogue.
Tribal Art Gallery. “Losso Statues (N° 17509) – anthropomorphic fetish busts, Losso/Nawdba, northern Togo.” Description including geometric scarification patterns, material (wood), etc. Losso people (Nawdba).” Ethnographic overview. Pierre Amrouche, Corps & Décors. Statuaire Lamba et Losso du Togo; Thomas Keller, researchoutcome: Works from Lamba/Losso carver. 

Height: 38 cm / 40 cm
Weight: 580 g / 620 g 

Hout - Redelijke staat

Een houten beeldhouwwerk - Verloren - Togo  (Zonder Minimumprijs)

Speelgoed

Minimumprijs

Geen minimumprijs

Nu kopen

Budget

Sluitingsdatum

zondag

zaterdag

vrijdag

maandag

12 juni

morgen

9 juni

vandaag

15 juni

13 juni

16 juni

donderdag

10 juni

17 juni

Locatie

Italië

Nederland

België

Frankrijk

Duitsland

Spanje

Japan

Hong Kong

Portugal

Oostenrijk

Denemarken

Polen

Ierland

Tsjechië

Zwitserland

Verenigd Koninkrijk

Finland

Verenigde Staten

Luxemburg

Cyprus

Litouwen

Singapore

Griekenland

Letland

Roemenië

Merk

Funko

Mattel

Durso

Barbie

Bandai

Playmobil

Pop Mart

Hasbro

King & Country

Del Prado

Steiff

Schuco

Neca

Tamiya

Märklin

Armand Marseille

Disney

Joustra

Elastolin

Jumeau

Toy Nomura

Peyo

Fleischmann

Corgi

Airfix

Object

Funko Pop

Figuur

Barbiepop

Themacollectie

Bordspel

Blikken speelgoed

Action figure

Teddybeer

Speelgoed figuur

Prent

Opwindbaar blikken speelgoed

Beeldje

Model militair voertuig

Verzameling van obligaties of aandelen

Speelgoed robot

Speelgoedsoldaatje

Bankbiljet

Speelgoedfiguurtjes

Collectie merkartikelen

Modelvliegtuig

Speelgoed modelkit

Tinnen soldaat

Land van herkomst

V.S.

China

Azië

Europa

Onbekend

Vietnam

Rusland

Verenigde Staten van Amerika

Indonesië

Hongarije

Brazilië

Hongkong

Materiaal

Plastic

Metaal

Composiet

Hout

Bisque

Hars

Pluche

Papier

Gegoten

Porselein

Staal

Textiel

Aluminium

Messing

Keramiek

Wit metaal

Katoen

Anders

IJzer

Glas

Aardewerk

Steen

Geslacht

Unisex

Dames

Conditie

Nieuwstaat

Goed

Zeer goed

Bijna nieuwstaat

Redelijk

Goede staat - gebruikt met kleine tekenen van ouderdom en vlekjes

Als nieuw - ongebruikt

In uitstekende staat

Redelijke staat - zwaar gebruikt en mogelijk ontbreken er kleine onderdelen

Uitstekende staat - nauwelijks gebruikt met minimale gebruikssporen en tekenen van ouderdom

Speelgoed

Dit object is niet meer beschikbaar, maar er valt nog veel meer te ontdekken

Een houten beeldhouwwerk - Verloren - Togo (Zonder Minimumprijs)

Populair in Speelgoed

1506 objecten

Gerelateerde collecties