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MILLON
172
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Three-headed fetish with padlocks
Wood with thick brown pati…
See original version (French)
172
-
Three-headed fetish with padlocks
Wood with thick brown pati…
See original version (French)
Estimate €600 - €800
Voluntary lot
Description
Three-headed fetish with padlocks
Wood with thick brown patina, traces of ritual projections on the top of the heads, large padlock necklace, various fabrics and materials, old marks of use
Fon, Ewe influence, Benin - Togo
69 x 20 x 20 cm
This charged female figure is part of the ritual practices of the Fon and Ewe world, where fetishes were used as a means of protection, intercession and mediation with invisible forces. The three heads could refer to a form of heightened vigilance or a symbolic ability to see and act in several directions. The coloquintes held in the hands are probably part of this ritual function, linked to magical preparations or charges.
The large accumulation of padlocks is evidence of prolonged use in situ. Each padlock probably corresponded to a specific request, wish or protective action. This superimposition of materials, fabrics and metal elements gives the whole a dense, organic presence, with an aesthetic that at times evokes certain assemblages in contemporary art.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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