Mossi Biiga or Doll / Fertility Figure

A head like a paddle, a neck like a broom handle, and a great deal of dignity.

This biiga or doll, also called a fertility figure, is Mossi, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood and leather. Among the Mossi, biiga dolls are generally given to young girls, who carry and care for them, and they are often associated with hopes for future children. The figure is pared to essentials: a flat rounded head, a long neck, a squared torso with small breasts, and a column ending in a block base. Thin leather bands wrap the neck and waist, and the dark surface is worn smooth. It stands 14 inches high.

Minimal, and not the least bit lacking.