Statue of a Lü Mä wife from the Dan people of Ivory Coast. It depicts a female figure standing upright and facing forward, set on broad, digitated feet, which reinforce the solidity of the image. It features a sturdy and "round" anatomy; its oval face resembles a mask, with prominent features: a wide nose, full lips, prominent forehead and cheekbones, and marked almond-shaped eyes. Its arms are straight and separated from the body, its legs short and slightly bent; it has large breasts and a prominent buttocks. Its body is decorated with scarification following geometric criteria, according to traditional Dan canons of beauty: neckline, breasts, abdomen, and back. Its head, adorned with a kind of headdress organized in braided shells, rests on a wide and long, ringed neck.
The Dan sculptors, whose talent was granted to them during a dream, constituted the means of communication between the Du, a spiritual power, and humankind. These artists were rewarded with gifts, festive ceremonies, meals, and honorable status for their work.
Dan statuary is scarce and a sign of prestige for its owner. Although its meaning has been lost, it is assumed that they were associated with the spiritual power of fertility. The figures are considered wooden human beings; they are not incarnations of spirits or ancestors, but prestige figures representing living people, often commissioned by chiefs, and placed in niches built for that purpose.
This figure possesses an exceptional patina, dark and mottled, which gives it a profound and authentic appearance, highlighting all the features; the face, the hairstyle and the scarifications are elevated to a higher level.
Conservation status: Very good condition. Minor abrasions on the lips and nose. Signs of wear and tear due to age and use. Some remnants of red polychrome.
"Carved with robustness in wood, it impresses with its solid structure and unique details."
FEMALE FIGURE DAN LÜ MÄ
Ivory Coast, 20th century
