Mossi Biiga or Doll / Fertility Figure, Based

A plain, helmeted head on a long stem, with no fuss at all.

Mossi artists of Burkina Faso, West Africa, carved this biiga doll in wood in the 20th century. Biiga are commonly associated with fertility and are cared for by girls as a rehearsal for motherhood. This one is spare: a smooth, rounded head swept forward and tilted, a narrow neck, and a flat-fronted torso etched with a few fine marks. The body widens gently to the foot. The surface is a deep, glossy brown, with small lighter wear marks on the head. A slim black base supports it.

About fourteen inches tall. Minimal, modern in feeling, and easy to live with.