In the Southeastern corner of the Ivory Coast
there are 12 ethnic groups known collectively as the Lagoon peoples.
Each population speaks a language only distantly related to that of
its neighbors. Objects in the style of this figure are usually assigned
to the Attie or Ebrie peoples. This statue was probably owned by
diviners, who claimed to use it to convey messages to the supernatural beings. "People of Wood" (as statues are called in the Lagoon
area) are also used to give physical form to the spouse whom a man
or woman left behind in the other world (their"spirit lover"). The
figure is known as Nkpasopi.
MEASUREMENTS: H: 9 5/8” x W: 3 1/4” x D: 2 3/4”
