African Arts Gallery

Ex-collection French African art.
Mpundu dolls are recognizable by their cylindrical body topped with a head whose face is, according to the specimens, endowed, with little or many scarifications. Like the Ibedji in the Yoruba, The Mpundu dolls are linked to the twin cult.
Satin-use skate

The dolls of the Namji or Dowayo , an animist mountain people living in northern Cameroon, have recently become known. These effigies represent the human body in stylized elementary forms. The umbilical is here encrusted with a cauri and highlighted with a string of red cootn, encrusted in the grainy patina. The face, flat and circular, on a stretched neck, wears scarifications, like the bust. These African tribal dolls are carved in wood by the blacksmith, at first for the game of little girls. But these dolls are mostly used by sterile women in complex fertility rituals, the doll becoming a surrogate child that they will treat as such. In some cases the fiancé offered it to his future wife, the doll representing their future offspring. The decoration of the doll can also reproduce the ...

The dolls of the Namji or D owayo , an animist mountain people living in northern Cameroon, have recently become known. These effigies represent the human body in stylized elementary forms. This anthropomorphic sculpture, supported by large joined feet, has a flat disc head with oblique jugal scarifications, an oversized neck surrounded by a strip of fabric, and a cylindrical bust. The abdomen is hollowed out in a cup and highlighted with a red textile pudding and a cauri marks the umbilical. Above, diamond motifs highlighted by series of perforations enhance the vital center that is the abdomen. These signs refer to fertility. The patina, grainy, and ritual libations have consolidated the fabrics adorning the object. These African tribal dolls are carved in wood by the blacksmith, at ...

Mossi African art.
Leather, this schematic anthropomorphic figure, whose head appearance varies from region to region, embodies a spirit with which a relationship is established. The chest symbolizes fertility. The abdomen, which has a slight bulge, is encased with greased cords just like the neck. The stylized head evokes the crest hairstyle worn by the Mossi girls. Glossy surface, covered with oil and dark pigments.
The use of dolls by young African women is not done exclusively within the initiation context. When menstruation occurs, the girl is considered a potential mother. In many ethnic groups, the search for fertility is then done through rituals. Wooden figures will then be carved, some reflecting both genres, in many cases covered with pearls and clothing. During the ...

F anteart art has become known mainly for its fertility dolls, which are worn by pregnant women, who do not have to lay eyes on a malformed being or object, lest their children resemble them. On the other hand, by looking at these dolls, expressions of idealized beauty, they are supposed to promote the beauty of their future children. These dolls carved in the Fante, population akan coastal regions of Ghana, ancient gold coast, have a slightly different appearance than those of the Ashanti. However, their function is more or less similar. The head here adopts a rectangular shape. The ringed neck and tubular bust are found on a cicular base and reduced breasts. This model, whose reverse has a refined geometric decoration, has a blackish oiled patina sainized by use.

These people consider women to be the final arbiter of all decisions. Fertility and children are the most common themes mentioned in the wooden sculptures Ashanti. This ethnic group has built a relatively democratic society based on the moral value of the individual.
The Ashanti founded a monarchy as early as the 17th century. The identities of the various ethnic groups Akan were influenced by both Islam and Christianity.

Their dolls Akuaba (plural Akua'mma) are easily identifiable by their characteristic shape. They consist of a flat circular head, the majority of which is reserved for the forehead, the facies themselves occupying only the lower third of the head.
This last one is carried by a small cylindrical body whose arms develop at a right angle. The ...

Upper Volta, Burkina Faso since independence, is made up of descendants of the invaders, horsemen from Ghana in the 15th century, named Nakomse, and Tengabibisi , descendants of the natives. Political power is in the hands of the Nakomsé, who assert their power through the statues, while priests and religious leaders come from the Tengabisi, who use masks during their ceremonies. Animists, the Mossi venerate a creative god named Wendé . Each individual would be endowed with a soul, sigha, linked to a totem icne.
This schematic anthropomorphic figure, whose head appearance varies by region, represents a spirit with which a relationship is established. The tubular bust is endowed with sagging breasts, an attribute of fertility and evocation of motherhood. The angular, stylized ...

Belgian African art collection.
At the top of this conical basket headdress accompanying the initiation rituals, set on a thick raphia canvas, appears an image, in the eyes of the Namji of Cameroon, of fertility and fertility: a stylized female effigy whose limbs in rectangular volume have digitized hands and feet with different shells. The doll, whose bust is dressed in leather, is awe-down with bracelets and necklaces of glass beads. A proportionally reduced head, with pupils encrusted with white beads, has a suspension ring. Abraded-use skate. It is only recently that the dolls of the Namji or Dowayo , an animist mountain people living in northern Cameroon, have only recently been known. These effigies represent the human body in stylized elementary forms. These African tribal ...

A schematic anthropomorphic fertility doll, whose head appearance varies by region, represents a spirit with which a relationship is established. The body is formed of a cylinder resting on a flared base on which the chest is cut. The angular, stylized head evokes the feminine crest hairstyle, the parallel incisions, the scarifications and the braids of the ethnic group. Beautiful patina abraded by the contact.Ex. collection of the painter 'a target''blank' href'http://wiki.ibb.town/Karl-Heinz-Engstfeld' Karl Heinz Engstfeld
The use of dolls, by young African women, is not done exclusively within the initiation context. When menstruation occurs, the girl is considered a potential mother. In many ethnic groups, the search for fertility is then done through rituals. Wooden figures ...

Ex French African art collection.

This people consider women to be the final arbiter of all decisions. Fertility and children are the most common themes mentioned in Ashanti wood carvings. This ethnic group has built a relatively democratic society based on the moral value of the individual.
The Ashantis founded a monarchy as early as the 17th century. The identities of the various Akan ethnic groups were influenced by both Islam and Christianity.

Their dolls are famous and easily recognizable by their characteristic shape. They consist of a flat circular head, the majority of which is reserved for the forehead, the facies themselves occupying only the lower third of the head.
This last one is carried by a small cylindrical body whose arms detach at a ...

Trapped in multiple necklaces of glass paste beads, these coupled anthropomorphic figures whose shaggy heads emerge, as haggard, from this colorful swaddling, have small limbs composed of loops in beige beads. Amulet cauris reinforce the fertility vow. An object of modest size, easily transportable, its supposedly active role does not abandon its aesthetic character.
Ethnie of northern Cameroon composed of animist mountaineers, the Dowayo , " Namji ", " Namchi ", use anthropomorphic figures, dolls, as part of fertility rituals. The women carried with them these dolls donated by their husbands in the hope of becoming mothers. The use of dolls by young African women is not done exclusively within the initiation context. When menstruation occurs, the girl is considered a potential ...

This anicenne effigy with arched limbs surrounded by cotton thread is sheathed in leather. The head, like the feet and hands, is formed in a simple metallic volute. On its abdomen, the magical virtues of a talisman in the form of a metal cabochon adorn a belt. Decorative elements, arranged in small successive metal balls, make up a dressing of the most beautiful effect. An ethnic group in northern Cameroon made up of animist mountaineers, the Dowayo , " Namji ", " Namchi ", use anthropomorphic figures, dolls, as part of fertility rituals. The women carried with them these dolls donated by their husbands in the hope of becoming mothers. The use of dolls by young African women is not done exclusively within the initiation context. When menstruation occurs, the girl is considered a ...

Headed with braids gathered in high conical bun, these statuettes represented perched on a circular base, have "abiku" ornaments of pearls and metal bells.
Desiccation cracks. Carved according to the indications of the Ifa transmitted to the diviner, the babalawo, the Ibedji statuettes played the role of substitute for the death of the child. The statues are then treated as the missing child would have been. It is the mother who must take care of them; she anoints them with oil and feeds them regularly. If she disappears, the remaining twin takes over.
Considered as more than a physical representation of a loved one, linked to the cult of Shango, the ibedji statues are believed to influence the life and prosperity of the family, and the latter continues to address ...