A Lobi headstake

A Lobi headstake (baathil / pole head), Kampti village, Poni province (Burkina Faso) Baselitz, an expert on African art, had already noted that the Lobi are probably among the ‘craziest’ carvers in West Africa. This Lobi headstake is probably the ‘craziest’ carved head I have ever seen, with a hand growing out of the head, incl. stand.

One similar Lobi sculpture - a Cephalopods - is published in Julian Flak, Magi der Lobi, pagee 86.


And a Cephalopod we sold in 2015.

This carved head is likely to be extremely rare, if not unique. Hardly any other ethnic group can claim such freedom in their creative canon as the carvers of the Lobi. I did not find any well‑documented Lobi head‑stakes (or “head poles”) with a literal arm growing out of the head.

CAB23346

Height: 53 cm incl. stand
Weight: 4,7 kg incl. stand