Featured African fertility figurines?

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by Divina, Aug 25, 2025.

  1. Divina

    Divina Active Member

    I am not certain but I believe these two bronze (?) figurines are African, but I have not found any similar ones online. 12,5 and 13 cm, 335g total.

    Any info regarding origin, age, if they have something to do with fertility or something else is of help and interest. Thank you!
    figur1.jpg figur2.jpg figur3.jpg figur5.jpg
     
  2. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    [​IMG]

    I am unfamiliar with these that I found online..
     
    Divina likes this.
  4. Divina

    Divina Active Member

    @komokwa Thank you.The ones in these pictures you have posted look very similar to my figurines.I have used Google lens many times but I have never seen your pictures.
     
    komokwa likes this.
  5. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    maybe I just got lucky...... searching now !

    & yes , those look like yours , but I can't say if yours are older or newer...:sorry::sorry:
     
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  6. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Your figures are not African, but more likely from Indonesia. There are similarities with ancestor figures (more commonly wood carvings) made by the Batak people of Sumatra. The first photo @komokwa posted is identified as being from the Torajan people of the island of Sulawesi (also Indonesia)-

    https://www.catawiki.com/en/c/1289-southeast-asian-oceanic-american-art

    The posture of the figure on top of yours, squatting with knees drawn up, frequently occurs in Batak representations of protective beings -
    upload_2025-8-25_13-26-7.png
    https://wentholtexpertise.com/indon...1-sumatra-batak-pakpak-dairi-ancestor-figure/

    And the same form of the headdress can be seen on this Batak figure, cast in brass/bronze -
    upload_2025-8-25_13-27-43.png
    https://www.artoftheancestors.com/batak
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Divina

    Divina Active Member

    @2manybooks Thank you. Very interesting information. Thank you for the pictures and links.

    I can't find the figures in the catawiki link, but maybe I am not in the right region to access certain objects.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2025
  8. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Sorry the catawiki link did not work. Here is a screen shot of the page -

    upload_2025-8-25_17-37-53.png
     
    Any Jewelry, Divina and komokwa like this.
  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    mine's bigger...! :playful::playful::playful::playful:.......;)
     
    Divina likes this.
  10. Divina

    Divina Active Member

    Thank you!
     
    komokwa likes this.
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