Lot: 132

76th tribal art auction

Seated female figure "iran"

Guinea-Bissau, Bidyogo

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
Ilse Ehlers, Wuppertal, Germany H: 22.2 inch This object is not available anymore.

light brown wood, encrusted reddish brown patina, sacrificial traces, reduced forms and facial features, hands amalgamated with the chair, min. dam., fine cracks, traces of abrasion;
for the Bidyogo everything sacred bares the Creole name "iran", and causes awe and respect among the people. The big spirit as master of the earth is called upon before every agronomic project is started, as well as for all attempts concerning the community, like initiation, enthronement of a chief or funeral festivities. When the deity is depicted anthropomorphic, he is shown seated, with the hands resting on the curved rims of the seat, as is the case with the present figure.


Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, Munich 2009, p. 103