A tall, slender woman stands with her arms held away from her body, each forearm and shoulder covered in tight concentric lines that echo the scarification patterns of Senufo women. Her face is narrow, with heavy closed lids and a pursed mouth, and a ridged cap rises to a small loop at the crown. Rings of incised grooves wrap the hips and thighs, and braided bands circle the knees above long, flat feet. This antique cast brass figure belongs to the Senufo tradition of northern Côte d'Ivoire, where female figures stand for ancestors, fertility and the guiding spirits of village life. The metal has aged to a deep chocolate brown, with golden wear on the raised lines and a waxy sheen from handling.
At 8.5 inches tall, it fits on a desk, a bookshelf, a console or a mantel, where its long vertical outline suits a narrow space between books or beside a lamp. Its engraved surface shows best in side light, which picks out every ring and line.
-
Era: Antique
-
Origin: Côte d'Ivoire (Senufo)
-
Material: Cast brass
-
Size: 3.5"(W) x 2"(D) x 8.5"(H)
-
Color: Dark brown bronze with golden highlights
-
Condition: Wear consistent with age and use, part of its character and historical value. Rubbed patina on the raised lines and feet.
This antique Senufo tribal cast brass female figure from Côte d'Ivoire has incised concentric lines on the arms and hips, ringed knees and a looped crest. It measures 3.5 inches wide, 2 inches deep and 8.5 inches tall, in dark brown bronze with golden highlights. It suits a desk, bookshelf, console or mantel.
Q: What do the incised lines on Senufo figures represent?
A: The concentric lines and ridges echo scarification, the patterned marks cut into the skin as a sign of beauty, maturity and belonging in Senufo communities. Metalworkers carried the same patterns into brass, so the surface of a figure records how an ideal woman was seen.
Q: How should you light a small brass figure so its detail shows?
A: Light it from the side with a low lamp or window light, which throws shadow into the grooves and lifts the ridges. A plain wall behind it keeps attention on the outline.
**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio
