Details:
- Height: 79 cm
- Material: Carved wood, natural aged patina
- Style: Mossi tradition, Burkina Faso
- Function: Fertility figure ("fertility boy"), associated with household and lineage rites
- Condition: Age-consistent cracking to the torso and face, natural surface wear throughout — condition confirmed as stable and consistent with age
Attribution note: Style and function consistent with Mossi fertility statuary; precise age and workshop of origin not certifie
A striking example of Mossi wood sculpture, embodying the community's hopes for fertility and continuity within the family line.
About this piece:
A tall, standing wood fertility figure carved in the tradition of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso, depicting a young male figure (a "fertility boy"). The figure stands frontally with a serene, closed-eye expression, a smooth elongated face, prominent brow ridges, and a distinctive crested coiffure rising to a peak at the top of the head — a stylized hairstyle typical of Mossi figurative carving. The elongated neck and columnar torso, arms held close to the body with hands resting at the waist, follow the restrained, upright posture characteristic of Mossi statuary. The surface shows a rich, aged wood patina, deepening toward the lower legs and feet.