Spirit Figure (Primary Title)
Kotina (Former Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Despite this work’s simplicity, the artist has taken care to render subtle indications of anatomy, such as a gently swelling torso. In Dagara belief, this type of figure serves as a container for the spirit of a protective ancestor, who is honored by placing the image on an altar in a family shrine. Its surface gradually thickens as ceremonial libations are poured on it over the years.
Aldine S. Hartman Endowment Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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