African Arts Gallery

This statuette of maternity, a female effigy seated on a stool, breastfeeding her child, is represented with braids assembled in a stylized pattern. This sculpted scene generally symbolizes the initiate feeding on the knowledge of the mother goddess. Irregular blackish patina, satin, erosions.
The Senufos , a name given to them by the French colonists, are mostly composed of farmers who are scattered between Mali, the Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo .
At the time of the death of one of the members of the Poro initiation society, statues named pombibele were exhibited. Although exclusively male, the Poro ...

Poro carvings in African tribal art
This female figure adopting curved lines belongs to the Senoufo style. The legs sink into the base forming a pestle called "sedine" or "dol" depending on the dialect. Tribal keloids inscribe on the body. Smooth black patina.
The Senoufos, the name given to them by French settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, headed by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings called katiolo. Each of them has its own Poro association which initiates young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years. They gather in a sacred enclosure called sinzanga located ...

Sculpture associated with the primordial bird that is one of the five animals of the Senufo cosmogony, the first stage of Senufo creation, the hornbill. Evoked for morphological and behavioral criteria, it decorates in an emblematic way, in its miniature version, many Senufo African art objects. Its long beak, "interpreted as the figuration of the male sexual organ" perpetuating the life of the community, comes back to rest on the animal's abdomen. Enhanced with touches of colored pigments, the brown patina is satiny. Desication cracks.
Linked to the Poro society which initiated young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years, this sculpture of Setien was placed in the sacred enclosure , where , despite its weight, carried on the head during ...

The hornbill statues in African art
This medium-sized sculpture features the mythical bird that is one of the five animals of the Senufo cosmogony, and more specifically the hornbill. Evoked for morphological and behavioral criteria, it decorates, in its miniature version, many Senufo African art objects. Rising from a base like the "deblé" pestle statues, the figure presents geometric decorative motifs with a symbolic connotation. Its long beak, "interpreted as the figuration of the male sexual organ" perpetuating the life of the community, comes back to rest on the animal's abdomen.
Beautiful golden brown lustrous patina, abrasions.
Senufo villages are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo. Each of them has its own Poro association which initiates young boys ...

Figure sculpted for divination purposes, this statuette has "hooves" hands placed on either side of the abdomen. The face is streaked with linear scarifications obliquely. Light brown satin patina. Abrasions. Desiccation cracks.
The Senoufos, a name given to them by French settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Ruled by matrilineal traditions, their villages are made up of clusters of dwellings called katiolo . Each of them has its own Poro association which initiates young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years. When one of the Poro members died, the statues named pombibele were on display. Although exclusively male, the Poro company in fact pays homage with these ...

Representations of hybrid beings, the zoomorphic African masks of the Senufo are worn by members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is to honor the elders or to appear at funerals, hence their name, poniugo , "funeral head". Multiple zoomorphic elements are usually associated, crocodile mouth, antelope horns, warthog and ram. At the top of this mask is a stylized chameleon, an emblematic animal that preceded the creation of human beings and a symbol of knowledge, presenting a cup udddal intended to receive magical substances. Living in a reserved neighbourhood, the sculptor senufo , whose training spanned seven years, began with the making of everyday objects, and then, little by little, carried sculptures of increasing size. ...

This African senoufo mask with a round head, exorbitant pupils, wide toothed jaw and zoomorphic ears, is named "c redeemer of fire" (Korobla). It is sometimes accessorized with magical attributes. Patine mate. Residual libations. Very good state of preservation.
The Senoufo, the name given to them by french settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages.
Representations of hybrid beings, the zoomorphic African masks of Sénufo are worn by members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is to honour the elders or to appear at funerals, hence their name, poniugo , " funeral head". ...

This feminine figure is surmounted by a lidded container, carved with a bird, symbol of divination. Speckled patina. Light wood on which remains greyish residues of oily coating. Many erosions. Mr. Brunel, a chemist by training, has crisscrossed Africa: Zaire, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Guinea,... Until his death, he will have accumulated nearly 600 pieces. Piece entrusted by his legatees.
The Senoufos, the name given to them by French settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own association Poro which introduces young boys ...

From a spherical mask, dug with holes for the eyes, stands a stylized effigy of a mythical bird frequently identified as the calao, or Setien , one of the five animals of the Senoufo cosmogony. Its long, tapered beak, interpreted as the figuration of the male sexual organ" that perpetuates the life of the community, elegantly returns to touch the bulging chest symbolizing motherhood. The paws hug the dome of the mask.
Desication cracks restored in situ using metal staples, an old matte, velvety dark patina, locally abraded on a light wood.
The Senoufo , a name given to them by French settlers, are mostly composed of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senoufo villages. ...

A large sculpture, with pure shapes, represents the mythical bird that is one of the five animals of the Senoufo cosmogony, and more precisely the calao. Evoked for morphological and behavioural criteria, it decorates, in its miniature version, many objects of African senoufo art. Its widely deployed wings reveal powerful lower limbs resting on a fragmented base. Its long beak, "interpreted as the figuration of the male sexual organ" perpetuating the life of the community, returns to land on the abdomen of the animal.
Linked to the Poro society that introduced young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years, this sculpture of the Setien was deposited in the sacred enclosure.
A native repair is visible on one of the wings and a sign, or ...

Equipped with a sculpted handle and sheathed in metal, this comb refers to the hornbill, which is the primordial bird that is part of the five animals of the Senoufo cosmogony, the first stage of the Senoufo creation. Evoked for morphological and behavioral criteria, it decorates in an emblematic way, in its miniature version, many Senoufo African art objects.
Mainly farmers, the Senoufo group lives in a savannah region that covers the south of Mali and Burkina Faso, and the north of the Ivory Coast. It includes about fifty sub-ethnic groups. The Senufo speak a Voltaic language, Gur, like the Lobi and Koulango. Councils of elders, headed by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named ...

The African masks of the Sénufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Preserved in the sacred enclosure named sezang fine to remove them from the eyes of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly drive the spirit of the deceased from his place of residence. Zoomorphic elements and human figures combine here in a narrow mask whose contours are lined with rows of pearls and lined with a textile hood. " Kpélié It is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth. The mask is carved in dense wood, one of the lower fins is broken. Beautiful patina of use dark color, locally grainy.
Live in a reserved area, the sculptor ...

French African art collection.
In African art, the African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Growths of various shapes alternate around the face of this narrow mask. It is surmounted by an animal scene in the form of a stylized carved motif. Black patina, velvety.
"Kpélié" meaning "jumping mask", this African mask is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth. Kept in the sacred enclosure called sezang in order to hide them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would primarily drive the spirit of the deceased away from its place of residence. Living in a ...

This African senoufo mask, adorned with a polychrome pastillage, has a large mouth of tubular ears, horns and fangs, and a summit figure with a cup. This African senoufo mask with a round head, exorbitant pupils, wide toothed jaw and zoomorphic ears, is named 'fire-breather' (Korobla). It is sometimes accessorized with magical attributes. The chameleon motif refers to the emblematic animal that preceded the creation of human beings and symbolizes knowledge, the cup is intended for magical substances.
The Senoufo, the name given to them by french settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages.
Representations of hybrid beings, the ...

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Growths of various shapes alternate around the face of this narrow mask. It is surmounted by an animal scene in the form of a stylized sculpted motif.
Black, grainy patina. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", this mask is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training ...

The hornbill in African art The mythical hornbill, which is one of the five animals of the Senufo cosmogony, tops this braided headdress. Evoked for morphological and behavioral criteria, it decorates, in its miniature version, many objects of African art Senoufo. Its long beak is often "interpreted as the representation of the male sexual organ" perpetuating the life of the community. Height on base: 47 cm.

The senoufo villages are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own Poro association which initiates young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years . They gather in a sacred enclosure called sinzanga located near the village, among the trees. At the time of the death of one of the members of the ...

The zoomorphic African masks of the Senufo are worn by members of the Poro Society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is to honor the elders or to appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly drive the spirit of the deceased out of his place of residence. At the top of this Kpélié mask meaning "masque that jumps " are three zoomorphic forms associated with the cameleon. Similar figures, in miniature, form the fins that appear on each side of the twin faces that can symbolize, according to the Senoufo, the primordial couple at the origin of the creation by emphasizing the complementarity between men and women. A decorative border consisting of double coloured pearl necklaces and raffia braiding attaches the canvas to the contours of the ...

The stylized figures of African tribal art
The oblong face, on which run parallel lines associated with the sacrifices, is topped with shells joined together in an elegant crest. This female figure has forearms that thicken towards the hands, which are placed at an angle on either side of the lower abdomen. The legs sink into the drumstick base called "sedine" or "dol" depending on the dialect. The narrow bust has a conical chest and signs symbolizing tribal keloids. Smooth, semi-satinized patina, residual ochre incrustations.
The Senoufos, the name given to them by French settlers, are mostly composed of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senoufo villages. Governed by ...

This figurative fetish statuette is said to be a divinatory fetish object. It would be of Tussia origin, Senoufo sub-group of Burkina-Faso. Irregular greenish-grey granular patina
. The Senoufos, the name given to them by the French colonists, are mainly composed of farmers who are scattered between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo. Each has its own Poro association that initiates young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years . They gather in a sacred enclosure called sinzanga located near the village, among the trees. Upon the death of one of the Poro members, ...

This comb is topped by a calao figure that is the primordial bird that is one of the five animals of the Cosmogony Senoufo, the first stage of the creation of Senoufo. Evoked for morphological and behavioural criteria, it emblematicly decorates, in its miniature version, many objects of African art senoufo.
Princile Farmers, the Senoufo Group lives in a savannah region that covers southern Mali and Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. It encompasses about 50 sub-ethnic groups. SSenoufo speak a voltaic language Gur, Gour, like the Lobi and the Koulango. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own association Poro which ...

This ring is a symbol of prestige, copper being a sacred metal, and its animal motifs recall the Senufo genesis. Named "ring of silence", probably by virtue of the secrecy to which the initiates are subjected, it was sometimes worn on the left hand, sometimes held between the teeth by healers during ceremonies with a therapeutic aim. Total height on base (removable ring) : 8 cm. Mainly farmers, the Senoufo group lives in a savannah region that covers the south of Mali and Burkina Faso, and the north of the Ivory Coast. It includes about fifty sub-ethnic groups. The Senufo speak a Voltaic language, Gur, like the Lobi and Koulango. If among the five groups of Senoufo artisans the kulibèlé are sculptors, the fonombèlé are both smiths and sculptors, claiming to be directly inspired ...