Fine African Bamana Wood Female Nyeleni Figure

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art

By Artemis Fine Arts

May 1, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-01 10:00:00 2025-05-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethno-fine-art-19334
Showcasing an extraordinary array of artifacts and art, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial treasures, fossils, fine and visual arts, and more! All ancient items are ethically sourced and legally available for sale. Enjoy the ease of in-house shipping for a seamless experience! Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  West Africa, Mali, Bamana peoples, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A carved wooden nyeleni statue of a nude woman with idealized features, made from dense wood, likely teak. These figures, used in Jo society initiation ceremonies among the Bamana people, represent an idealized form of youthful feminine beauty, with geometric stylization including conical breasts, exaggerated buttocks, and cylindrical limbs and torso. Often rubbed with oil to create a lustrous surface, they reflect how young Bamana women prepare for special occasions. Historically, unmarried Bamana men used nyeleni figures to symbolize the ideal wife, with the figures playing a role in the initiation ceremonies marking the transition to adulthood in Bamana culture. Size: 6.75" L x 5" W x 24.5" H (17.1 cm x 12.7 cm x 62.2 cm)
  
  Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, purportedly deaccession from a museum
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #190177

  Condition

  Stable pressure fissures throughout. Patina on surface from oil being rubbed into the wood. Frayed wool yarn attached to the ears. Overall lovely condition.
• Shipping Info

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