Mossi Biiga or Doll / Fertility Figure, Based

Broad-shouldered and a bit grand for a doll.

This standing figure was carved in wood by Mossi artists of Burkina Faso, West Africa, in the 20th century, and is a biiga, or fertility doll. Dolls of this kind are commonly associated with fertility and the hope for children. The wood has a dark, reddish skin. A tufted head sits above rounded shoulders, and the arms hang straight at the sides, with a faint incised pattern on the torso. The legs are short and set apart on a flat base.

About 12 inches tall. More presence than inches should allow.