Lot 155 D‡α

Literature

Grootaers, J.-L. (Ed.), "Forms of Wonderment: the History and Collections of the Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal", Berg en Dal, 2002, vol.1, p.267.

Writing about this figure (op. cit. p.267) the author states: The red colour of the fabric wrapped round the front of this impressive figure is only barely visible through the crust of sacrificial matter. A heavily charged bocio like this one is an example of what Suzanne Blier has termed ‘alchemical art’. There is a small male figure carved on the belly. Its torso is covered with strips of fabric and pieces of iron, and it has a vessel nailed to its head. A crocodile’s lower jaw has been fastened in between the two figures. The crocodile summons up all kinds of different associations in Fon culture; among other things, it is associated with water, knowledge and power.