Mossi Biiga or Doll / Fertility Figure

A smooth, domed head above a bare, tapering column, standing proud.

This biiga, a doll or fertility figure is Mossi, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is carved wood. The figure is typically a flat or columnar wooden form with a stylized head, carved with a smooth surface and sometimes a distinctive hairstyle. A dark carved figure with a large smooth head and a plain, curving body. Small arms project forward at chest height, and light scratches cover the torso. A thick disk forms the base, and the surface is worn glossy. It is 1.3 inches wide, 2 deep and 8.7 high.

No fuss, no frills, just a nice sturdy silhouette.