This austere and well-carved female figure was made by the Baga tribe of Guinea, and is a rarity. The proportions are deliberately modified, so the figure has short arms, a long torso, elongated arms and an oversized head. The face is absolutely classically Baga, with a high, hooked nose, wide-open eyes, a created coiffure, facial scarring and a small, tube-shaped mouth. Unusually, it also has a pierced nose (with an iron ring), several necklaces, anklets and a series of raffia/textile belts around the hips. The figure is seated upon a low stool, the hands resting on the knees. The figure is of a young female, as evidenced by the pert breasts and taut rendering; the patina is golden but does not appear to have received libations. The status of the figure might be argued to be somewhat elevated on the basis that it is seated – stools are prestige items – and adorned with jewellery.
The Baga live on the Coast of Guinea, and are named for the phrase bae-raka: People of the Seaside. They speak their own language and also the Mande language, Susu. Their economy is based upon rice agriculture and fishing; the latter which may have been secondarily learned as oral tradition states that the Baga people were once inland rather than coastal, and were driven towards the sea by a hostile invasion of their homelands.
Their art is disproportionately well-known, as while they do not produce a great deal of artworks, the Nimba (or D’mba) headdress – an enormous anthropomorphic figure on four legs, worn on the shoulders of a dancer who is concealed with a raffia train – is one of Africa’s best-known artistic icons. Their sculptures are rare, making this a piece of unusual interest.
With its hooked nose, upright stance and the unique treatment of the facial features, this is a classical piece of Baga sculpture, and a worthy addition to any good collection.