Carved wooden female ancestor sculpture from the Senufo peoples of West Africa. Wonderfully exaggerated style and form with a glossy black patina, incised tribal tattoos and linear designs. Such figures were created for use in Divination ritual by the Senufo, Small wooden antropomorphic statuettes were used by Senufo diviners to communicate with helpful spirits living in the wilderness. Artists creating such figures followed closely the instructions given to them by the diviner who would have been told certain details about the figure's required appearance, gender, posture, scarification marks etc. directly by the spirit. Diviners were contacted by the spirits often while they were sleeping in the form of a dream.This female measures 10 inches tall on professional wooden base.

Well handled oily patina, Overall Good condition.