157 - Bamana (Bambara), Mali

Bamana (Bambara), Mali Jo Nyeleni Statue Standing female statue known as Jo Nyeleni First half of the 20th century Hardwood with a reddish-brown patina H 70 cm In good overall condition, with normal signs of wear. Provenance: Private collection, acquired at auction and held in the collection for about fifteen years. A standing female statue on a circular base, with her hands resting on her hips in a hieratic pose. The face, with geometric features, has a prominent nasal bridge. It is topped by a beautiful crest-like hairstyle, extended by two broad side braids swept back and finely striated. The neck is long and cylindrical, the shoulders broad, and the chest marked by conical breasts. Her arms bear herringbone scarifications, while triangular motifs adorn her upper back, shoulders, and abdomen. The female genitalia are depicted. It has a beautiful, deep, and nuanced patina from use, attesting to long-term handling. The Jo Nyeleni are associated with the Jo, an initiation society. They embody the ideal of the accomplished young woman—a symbol of beauty, fertility, and maturity—and were presented during ceremonies and rites of passage.