Divination vessel
Tikar · Cameroon
Reference: MYA-38
View 1 of 4 · Press the image to enlarge
- Height
- 18 cm
- Material
- Cooked clay.
Small container from western Cameroon. Tikar are a small Pygmy village that stands out for its practices of magic, especially its women. This statuette, despite its…
Enquire about this objectPhotographs (4)
Full original description
Small container from western Cameroon. Tikar are a small Pygmy village that stands out for its practices of magic, especially its women. This statuette, despite its androgynous appearance, seems to represent a woman, taking into account the cauri that appears in the front above the central hole and that seems to be introduced into the sex of the woman, since cauri represents the female sex, which is a clear allusion to the fertility of the woman. The explicit representation of sex, male or female, has no sexual or erotic connotation in African art, is simply a way of extolling the fertility of women or the fertilizing power of men, as foundations of the generation of a new life. This small container is intended for divinatory practices. Through the small hole grain of seed is inserted and the patient or person who has requested the services of the fortune teller must move away a few steps while stirring the container. In the sound produced, the fortune teller will find the signs that will allow his prediction.Dark patina.
Further technical information
- Attributed period
- Years 60
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
Country on the map
Cameroon. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
Google Maps is loaded only when you press the button.
Attributions, dates and accounts come from the preserved catalogue. They do not constitute certification of authenticity or provenance. An object’s presence on this website does not mean it is available for sale.
