Lobi Snake retailer Pendant | Currency | Burkina Faso | African Art 142323

PRODUCT DETAILS

+ Type of Object - Currency, Protection
+ Country of Origin - Burkina Faso, small areas of Mali, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana
+ People - Lobi
+ Materials - Metal
+ Height (in) - 7
+ Width (in) - 3 1/4 - 3/8
+ Depth (in) - 1
+ Other Dimensions - --
+ Overall Condition - Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.
+ Damage/Repair - Rust/oxidation, see photos for details.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Additional Information:

The Lobi use snakes like this tied to their calves to protect them from snake bite and lightning. The snake is a prominent theme in the area along the Niger river and among the Dogon (see their art and imagery of masks and the rock shelter paintings and especially their doors.)Also very prominent in the 'Djenne - Mopti' terracotta with whole snakes and snakes coiled with their head resting on eggs. Some Dogon assert that the snakes on doors represent their ancestors because of the fact that they retailer shed their skin each year and are thus 'reborn'. Also their curved traces in the snow and representation on doors and the long 'squiggly' lines along the sides of some Dogon masks make reference to the idea of water/river.



AG0922


SKU: 142323