Information
h 46,5 cm
Ritual figure.
Hardwood covered with a mixture of sacrificial substances that give the sculpture a greyish colour.
The sculpture depicts a Nommo, an ancestral figure that springs upwards from a small plinth. The vague image of a human body appears to emerge from the wood.The arms raised up high, which have now almost disappeared, evoke an act of pleading to the gods. The rudimentary face allows you to see eyes, a mouth and a pointed beard. The long breasts suggest this is a supernatural being of both sexes, a form of expression later depicted in Dogon tradition, a people that French anthropologist Marcel Griaule, with his research in Mali, brought to the world’s attention.
Ritual figure.
Hardwood covered with a mixture of sacrificial substances that give the sculpture a greyish colour.
The sculpture depicts a Nommo, an ancestral figure that springs upwards from a small plinth. The vague image of a human body appears to emerge from the wood.The arms raised up high, which have now almost disappeared, evoke an act of pleading to the gods. The rudimentary face allows you to see eyes, a mouth and a pointed beard. The long breasts suggest this is a supernatural being of both sexes, a form of expression later depicted in Dogon tradition, a people that French anthropologist Marcel Griaule, with his research in Mali, brought to the world’s attention.
Provenance
Former collection of Emilio Iogna, Milan;
Work acquired by him in a Parisian gallery in the 1950s;
Former collection of heirs;
Private collection (2002)
Work acquired by him in a Parisian gallery in the 1950s;
Former collection of heirs;
Private collection (2002)
Contact
Condition report
To request a Condition Report, please contact arteafricana@finarte.it
The department will provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that what Finarte declares with respect to the state of conservation of the objects corresponds only to a qualified opinion and that we are not professional conservators or restorers.
We urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. We always suggest prospective buyers to inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition during the exhibition days as indicated in the catalog.