This figure has features of both the Toma people of Guinea and the Bassa people of Liberia. The statue showcases a female figure with beautiful scarfication on her check and stomach. She measures 28 inches tall and weighs 9.5 pounds. There is some cracking and scuffing throughout and her left foot is slightly loose. Please inspect photos.
Sale!
Toma/Bassa Female Statue 28″ – Guinea/Liberia – African Art
Original price was: $200.00.$100.00Current price is: $100.00.
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| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Guinea |
| Ethnicity | Bassa, Toma, Thoma |
| Material | Wood, Pigment |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 28" |
| Width (Inches) | 10" |
| Depth (Inches) | 8" |
| Weight (Pounds) | 9.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Left foot is loose. Cracking and scuffing throughout. |
Tribe Information
About the Bassa People
“Bassa territory lies in the middle of present day Liberia. Their economy is based on rice which they cultivate around small villages which have a population of around two hundred. Bassa artistic tradition has been influenced by their north-eastern neighbours, the Dan, who live on the Ivory Coast.”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.
About the Toma People
“The Toma people of Guinea (known as Loma in Liberia) number 200,000 and live in the high-altitude rain forest lying across the Guinea-Liberia border. Artistically, their reputation rests on their Landai mask which has an articulated crocodile jaw and a flattened, stylized human face. This mask symbolically devours Poro society candidates at the end of their initiation period, after which they are revived as full members of this sodality. Some rare figures exist which are kept within each household.”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.