Fon Wood Hen Fetish

Softly, a chunky bird in orange-brown, standing upright on a little pedestal.

This wood and pigment hen fetish is from Benin, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. The Fon of the former Dahomey Kingdom in present-day Benin are known for a rich tradition of figurative sculpture connected with vodun, the religion of the region. Offered here, a carved bird with a rounded body, a small head and a short hooked beak, standing on two thick legs. Flat facets show the tool marks over its glossy orange-brown coat. It stands on a small square base with chipped corners. It is 2.25 inches wide, 4.25 deep and 7.5 high.

Plump, upright and quite sure it is the right shape.