Bochio Figures – Wood – Fon – Benin

Powerfull post figure couple of the FON tribe from Benin.

Boccio figure like these were placed outdoors and sunk into the earth, becoming wonderfully aged by exposure. Despite their small scale, they seem to gain a spiritual monumentality from being fused with the earth. Standing at the entrance of a village, a courtyard, a house, or a shrine, they served a protective function, barring the entrance of evil spirits.

Provenance: Manfred Schäfer collection, ex- gallery owner from Ulm, Germany.