A female Bamana sculpture of the Banikó region

A female Bamana sculpture of the Banikó region, Segou, of remarkable shape. standing on a circular flat base, the rectangular feet beneath shortened legs, the buttocks in stylized, cubistic form, the protruding abdomen with pointed navel, large ball-shaped breasts, rounded shoulders terminating in slender arms with hands turned outside, a columnar neck supporting a helmetlike head with a domed single crested coiffure framed by short pigtails on each side of the head; fine aged, partly encrusted patina, inparticular at the breasts and the facial plane signs of a touch-patina of tribal-use. Sculptures of this quality and age are rare in the Bamana country nowadays. Collected 2011 in Segou from Daba Diarra, who passed away 2023 in the age of ca. 80 years. Since eight years we haven't collected a similar sculpture.

The last photo of Daba Diarra (right) Oct. 2022 together with the King of Segou.

Height: 66 cm
Weight: 6,8 kg