ZOOMORPHIC STATUETTE Speckled hard stone H. 10 cm Sub-Sahara region, Neolithic, circa 4th-2nd millennium BC Provenance Former French collection, sold as part of an estate French private collection, acquired on the French art market Published Published in: Duncan Caldwell, The Use of Animals in Birth Protection Rituals and Possible Uses of Stone Figurines from the Central Sahel, 2015, no. N Hard stone zoomorphic statuette representing a giraffe in a highly stylised and refined manner. The sculpture has a characteristic elongated, vertical shape: a compact, stocky body supported by two short, schematised legs, surmounted by a long cylindrical neck ending in a slightly swollen oval head. The extreme stylisation reduces the animal to its essential features, creating a form that is both recognisable and abstract. The stone has a naturally speckled surface, with black and beige inclusions creating a mottled pattern reminiscent of the giraffe's coat. This choice of material is probably not accidental: Neolithic craftsmen would have selected this stone precisely for its visual resemblance to the coat pattern of the animal depicted. The surface is polished and smooth, reflecting the long process of shaping and finishing. The posture is static and hieratic, giving the object a monumental presence despite its probably modest size. The legs are slightly apart, providing a stable foundation. No superfluous details have been added: no indication of the eyes, mouth or horns (ossicones) characteristic of the giraffe, reinforcing the abstract and symbolic nature of the representation. According to the study cited (The Use of Animals in Birth Protection Rituals and Possible Uses of Stone Figurines from the Central Sahel), these stone animal figurines would have played a role in protection rituals linked to birth and fertility. The giraffe, with its imposing stature, its neck that enabled it to reach great heights, and its symbolic relationship between earth and sky, could have embodied values of protection, growth and cosmic connection. Statuettes of this type were probably used as protective amulets, votive objects placed in shrines, or for domestic rituals linked to life cycles, particularly pregnancy and childbirth. Their durability (stone) suggests that they were intended to be preserved and passed on, perhaps from generation to generation. A Sub Saharian Stone Stylized Zoomorphic Statuette. c. 4th-2nd Millennium BCE. Zoomorphic statuette in hard stone representing a giraffe in a highly stylized and simplified manner. The sculpture presents a characteristic elongated vertical form: a compact, stocky body supported by two short schematized legs, topped by a long cylindrical neck ending in a slightly bulging oval head. The extreme stylization reduces the animal to its essential characteristics, creating a form that is both recognizable and abstract. The stone presents a naturally mottled surface, with black and beige inclusions creating a spotted pattern evoking the giraffe's coat. This choice of material is probably not fortuitous: Neolithic artisans would have selected this stone precisely for its visual resemblance to the animal's coat pattern. The surface is polished and smooth, demonstrating long work of shaping and finishing. The posture is static and hieratic, conferring monumental presence on the object despite its probably modest dimensions. The legs are slightly apart, ensuring stable seating. No superfluous detail is added: no indication of eyes, mouth, or the characteristic horns (ossicones) of the giraffe, reinforcing the abstract and symbolic character of the representation. According to the cited study (The Use of Animals in Birth Protection Rituals and Possible Uses of Stone Figurines from the Central Sahel), these stone animal figurines would have played a role in protection rituals related to birth and fertility. The giraffe, with its imposing stature, its neck reaching heights, and its symbolic relationship between earth and sky, could have embodied values of protection, growth, and cosmic connection. Statuettes of this type were probably used as protective amulets, votive objects deposited in sanctuaries, or supports for domestic rituals related to life cycles, particularly pregnancy and childbirth. Their durable character (stone) suggests they were intended to be preserved and transmitted, perhaps from generation to generation.