Mossi Biiga or Doll / Fertility Figure

Flat-topped and weathered, like a field after harvest.

This biiga, or doll, was carved in wood by Mossi artists in Burkina Faso, West Africa, in the 20th century. Dolls like this are commonly associated with fertility and are often treated as children. The head is a broad, flat shield with scratched marks across its face. A thin neck leads to a small arm and a long body that ends on a round, ringed foot. The wood is honey brown, dry and finely scuffed.

About 14 inches tall. It has the look of a thing used for years.