Vintage Hand Carved Mossi People Biiga Doll and Seated Woman Sculpture
Vintage Hand Carved Mossi People Biiga Doll and Seated Woman Sculpture. Biiga doll is hand carved from a single piece of wood. The seated woman is also carved from a single piece of wood. An earring is present in the left ear and a small twig is present in the right. In good condition with use and wear throughout. Please refer to pictures for details.
Seated Woman: 17 1/2 L x 4 W
Biiga Doll: 15 L x 4 W
Crafted from a single piece of wood by the village carver or smith, biiga are presented to young Mossi girls as toys. The dolls are cylindrical in shape with a semi-circular head, which sometimes features a downward extension out of the forehead. Although it may look like an elephant trunk or even a phallus, it is said to imitate the hairstyle worn by unmarried Mossi girls. Etches in the wood symbolize scarification marks and the beauty of adulthood, while the full mature breasts depict the splendor of motherhood. The girls are taught to take exceptional care of their dolls. They wash, feed and carry them around like a mother would her child. The dolls are sometimes dressed in leather clothes and decorated with cowry shells and beads.
Vintage Hand Carved Mossi People Biiga Doll and Seated Woman Sculpture. Biiga doll is hand carved from a single piece of wood. The seated woman is also carved from a single piece of wood. An earring is present in the left ear and a small twig is present in the right. In good condition with use and wear throughout. Please refer to pictures for details.
Seated Woman: 17 1/2 L x 4 W
Biiga Doll: 15 L x 4 W
Crafted from a single piece of wood by the village carver or smith, biiga are presented to young Mossi girls as toys. The dolls are cylindrical in shape with a semi-circular head, which sometimes features a downward extension out of the forehead. Although it may look like an elephant trunk or even a phallus, it is said to imitate the hairstyle worn by unmarried Mossi girls. Etches in the wood symbolize scarification marks and the beauty of adulthood, while the full mature breasts depict the splendor of motherhood. The girls are taught to take exceptional care of their dolls. They wash, feed and carry them around like a mother would her child. The dolls are sometimes dressed in leather clothes and decorated with cowry shells and beads.
Vintage Hand Carved Mossi People Biiga Doll and Seated Woman Sculpture. Biiga doll is hand carved from a single piece of wood. The seated woman is also carved from a single piece of wood. An earring is present in the left ear and a small twig is present in the right. In good condition with use and wear throughout. Please refer to pictures for details.
Seated Woman: 17 1/2 L x 4 W
Biiga Doll: 15 L x 4 W
Crafted from a single piece of wood by the village carver or smith, biiga are presented to young Mossi girls as toys. The dolls are cylindrical in shape with a semi-circular head, which sometimes features a downward extension out of the forehead. Although it may look like an elephant trunk or even a phallus, it is said to imitate the hairstyle worn by unmarried Mossi girls. Etches in the wood symbolize scarification marks and the beauty of adulthood, while the full mature breasts depict the splendor of motherhood. The girls are taught to take exceptional care of their dolls. They wash, feed and carry them around like a mother would her child. The dolls are sometimes dressed in leather clothes and decorated with cowry shells and beads.
