The Senufo figures were carved by respected carvers and used by fortune tellers in Ivory Coast. Although playing a vital role in Senufo traditions the carvers did not belong to the high ranked class. This statue has a slender torso, the arms carved close to the torso with hands resting on the abdomen, the shoulders rounded, a thick columnar neck supports an oval head with a protruding mouth and almond-shaped eyes, the cap-shaped hairstyle seems to represent a stylized bird head; the figure is characterized by an old touch patina, which suggests a longlasting ritual use. Lit: Senufo, erzahlen wahrsagen heilen, G. Ammann et al, 1988, Zurich. Provenance: private collection Senufo figure without stand 18x5x4 cm 70 gr The Dogon figures from Mali are primarily concerned with the spirits responsible for the fertility of both land and people. These include a family's real and mythical ancestors, the souls of women who died in childbirth, and water spirits. This small figure is characteristic Dogon style. The sharply angled legs, the elongated arms, which are bent at the elbows and the wrists to create a steplike form. The breasts are placed high on the long, narrow torso. The figure’s face with its arrow-shaped nose, is inscribed within the boundaries formed by the raised jaw and hairline. Nice patina. Provenance: private collection Dogon figure with stand 20 cm, 3 x 3 62 gr