BoW-53 / Biiga, Mossi, Burkina Faso

Height: 10.0 in / 25.4 cm

ex George Rodrigues, Paris (pre-1972)
ex Dr John Ross Sr, USA

Wood, beads, string, pigment

Publication History:
George Rodrigues, African Ritual Dolls, The University Museum, Philadelphia and The Anko Foundation, 1974, figure 57

Exhibited at:
African Ritual Dolls, The University Museum, Philadelphia, 1974

A highly abstract Mossi biiga figure with a strong vertical form. The elongated projection from the head functions more as a symbolic or headdress-like element than a literal feature, further emphasizing the importance of the head. The surface shows good age and handling. Mossi biiga figures are generally understood as protective and spiritually charged objects associated with children, fertility, and the well-being of the household. The term biiga itself refers to a child, and such figures were kept close and were carried, wrapped, secured, or placed nearby to safeguard vulnerable children and reinforce their spiritual presence. They were not conceived as decorative objects, but as purposeful forms whose power was activated through proximity, handling, and use rather than display.

$1800 plus shipping