1 - Figure d’autel Tchitcheri, Moba, Togo

Figure d’autel Tchitcheri, Moba, Togo Wood H. 32 cm A sculpture of rare economy of means, in which the stylization, simplicity, and restraint of forms reduced to the essential give the figure an abstract and timeless presence. An anthropomorphic figure of the Tchitcheri type, linked to the tradition of Moba ancestral altars in northern Togo and neighboring regions of Ghana. The Tchitcheri occupy a central place in Moba ritual life: they embody the relationship between the living, the ancestors, and protective powers. Depending on their size, they were intended for personal, family, or community altars. The work is distinguished by an ovoid head, completely devoid of facial features, set upon a ring-shaped neck, an elongated torso, and stretched limbs, rendered as geometric volumes. The arms, narrow and slightly detached from the body, extend the verticality of the composition, while the slender, splayed legs accentuate its architectural character. The deliberately rough modeling retains the direct imprint of the tool, giving the surface an irregular texture and great expressiveness. Provenance - Private French collection