47 - Important statue

Important statue depicting a female shaman (dhamini). Weathered wood, traces of white clay, signs of age, and patina. Humla region, western Nepal. H. 84 × W. 21 × D. 14 cm. Provenance: Former Renaud Vanuxem Collection. Publication: Éric Chazot, Liliane and Michel Durand-Dessert, Himalayas – Art & Shamans, Paris, LMDD, 2009, Volume I, Nos. 90, 91, and 92, reproduced in full-page illustrations. In western Nepal, female shamans, or dhamini, played an essential role as mediators between humans, spirits, and the forces of nature. This female effigy appears to be captured in a state of transformation: her arched body, human arms, long, loose braids resembling snakes, and a face with feline features combine to create an image of transition between several realms. Half-serpent, half-feline, she embodies the power of metamorphosis, where the feminine becomes a source of vision, protection, and dialogue with the invisible.