Dagari, Altar Spirit Figure
Lobi, Burkina Faso
Early 20th Century
Provenance: Oscar Agard Collection, Newark, NJ

These abstract symbolic figures represent a minimalist interpretation of the human form. This enigmatic sculpture was placed up against a wall in a family shrine for protection. Sacrificial substances would have routinely been poured down the front of the sculpture, and in this example built up an encrusted patina solely on the object’s front. These objects are not decorated, their beauty lying in their simplicity. The frontal symmetry is bold and powerful, while the artist has manipulated the natural curvature of the wood to create a sense of movement.

Height: 38.5 inches
11-15-16 / Price on request

 

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