Senufo Delele Helmet Statue Ivory Coast Wood H.... Lot 50

Senufo Delele Helmet Statue Ivory Coast Wood H. 55 cm Provenance : - Private collection, France, acquired from a Paris gallery in the 1980s Although they belong to the category of poro initiates' exit statues, degélé have a particular morphology that classifies them as either statues or masks. As statues, they are the only ones to be worn on the head during exit ceremonies, with a helmet as a base. Degele have twisted bodies and never upper limbs. They may have legs or, as in this case, a simple tubular trunk. It should be noted that there are only two degélé (male and female) in each sacred grove, and that they only appear in public every twenty-one years, each time constituting a great popular celebration (information taken from : Diarrassouba Tiohona Moussa, in Corps sculptés, corps parés, corps masqué, AFAA, 1989). Our example, whose breasts indicate its feminine gender, is distinguished primarily by its brilliantly modeled head. The flat face emerges from the neck with an elegant indentation, the face finely sculpted, the cheeks and temples scarified, the ears pierced and adorned with copper rings, the top of the skull adorned with a drooping crest dividing into two quills at the front and back. Two small holes on the top of the skull were once used to insert feathers or ornaments. Beautiful patina from ritual use.