Rare, Vintage Dahomey, Fon Vodun (Vodou) Doll, Women’s Dance/13”H

Description: Doll is 13” H, carved from wood, with white coating on it, but much wear showing age, especially on the head and breasts. There is a cotton skirt that also originally had white powder of some type on it. Strands of tiny beads (which are similar to very old beads used in early Nigerian bead work) are attached permanently to the neck. I am guessing that the piece might date at the latest from the early to mid-20th century but possibly much earlier to slave trade times. The Kingdom of Dahomey (the present country of Benin) was established in 1600, and became the major power in the Atlantic slave trade, with slaves supplied through raids of surrounding areas. It was also the area of the origins of African Vodun, primarily by the Fon peoples, which the slaves brought to Haiti and surrounding “new world” areas, where it is now known as Voodoo, or Vodou. I was told by the knowledgeable African man from whom I bought this “doll” (and two similar ones) that it was very rare, that it was part of a Vodum ceremony, and that woman who danced in white dresses wore them. Abbreviated research on the practice of Vodun in Africa shows some interesting bits of information that might lead to more details on the meaning and use of this doll. One is that women who were to become priestesses of Vodun were chosen and spent as many as six months in the sacred forest communing with the spirit world and learning the language, secrets, history and healing of the cult. A friend who spent some time in Nigeria said these priestesses all wore white, and that they were given different colored bead necklaces. Vodun dances and ceremonies date back to the slavery period, but they have evolved over the centuries and special festivals continue on even until today - except for a time around 1972 when a Benin Marxist president forbade the practice, which lead to the destruction of many fetish pieces, making the surviving pieces much rarer. During the festivals, the highly respected Vodun priests and priestesses dance, intitiate new members, and go down to the “Door of No Return” at the slave port on the Atlantic Ocean, to commemorate those that were forced to leave Benin due to slavery. I saw some photos on the internet of a recent festival and a close up shot of a woman wearing a brightly colored dress, (not white) but with two more recent looking dolls in a pocket. And finally, the actual wood carvings, or “bocio” made for West African Vodun: They are designed to attract and hold powerful forces through which the owner can achieve goals such controlling others, attaching well-being, harming enemies or protecting against destructive forces sent out by enemies. I also read that such dolls are made for women to wear when they are pregnant, to prevent miscarriages and help with a healthy delivery. I'm selling on behalf of my mother in law, who is an African art collector.

Price: 299 USD

Location: Van Nuys, California

End Time: 2024-09-21T02:31:22.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD