Mossi Biiga or Doll / Fertility Figure

The doll was carried like a baby, and fed attention like one. Practice, and hope.

This biiga was carved in Burkina Faso in the 20th century. A young woman might keep hers in hopes of fertility and a healthy child. The slender figure, nearly eleven inches tall, has a tall columnar body on a short round base, small pointed breasts and arms held close to the sides. The crested head is finely striated to suggest a braided coiffure, above a long neck circled by an incised band. Fine incised lines mark the torso.

The dark wood is worn smooth from handling. Smoothness like that takes years of attention. Hold it gently.