LOBI STATUE BURKINA FASO Wood H.: 38 cm (15 in.) A Lobi figure, Burkina Faso Provenance: Gos W. Sannes Collection (1909–2000), The Hague Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection (1932–2009), Brussels, then passed down through the family  Bibliography: Sannes (Gos W.), African ‘primitives’: function and form in African masks and figures, Lochem, 1968, pp. 100–101 A farming people deeply attached to their spiritual traditions, the Lobi accord a central place to bateba figures within their religious system. Passed down from generation to generation, these figures serve as intermediaries between the world of humans and that of the spirits. A sculpture such as this would have been placed in a family shrine, where it acted as an aid to the protective spiritual powers. To ensure their goodwill and protection, the faithful would regularly place offerings of chicken blood, millet beer and shea butter on its surface. An early example of the so-called ‘Kelkoa’ style, this figure is distinguished by its prominent eyes, characteristic of this stylistic group. According to Werner Fischer, the raised rings surrounding them are said to replicate the facial expression of an individual in a state of possession. A LOBI FIGURE BURKINA FASO Wood H.: 15 in. Provenance: Collection of Gos W. Sannes (1909–2000), The Hague Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection (1932–2009), Brussels, then by descent Bibliography: Sannes (Gos W.), African ‘primitives’: function and form in African masks and figures, Lochem, 1968, pp. 100–101 The Lobi are an agricultural people whose social and religious life is deeply rooted in spiritual practices. Bateba figures play a central role in their belief system and are passed down through generations as intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds. Figures of this type were placed within a family shrine to serve as assistants to the protective spirits. Offerings of chicken blood, millet beer and shea butter were regularly applied to their surfaces to secure the benevolence and protection of the spirit world. An early example of the ‘Kelkoa’ style, this figure displays the characteristic prominent eyes associated with the group. According to Werner Fischer, the ‘spectacle-like’ rings surrounding the eyes are said to reproduce the facial expression of a person in a state of possession.