SÉNOUFO, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire - Lot 424

SÉNOUFO, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire Monumental hornbill, wings spread, round belly and plunging beak wood, old honey-brown patina 150 × 92 cm (broken wings glued) The Senufo, who live in the north of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, give the hornbill a central place as a primordial animal and founding figure. The beak plunging towards the belly symbolizes the union of masculine and feminine principles, associated with fertility and continuity. The generous belly reinforces this idea of fertility and contained knowledge. These sculptures are used in Poro initiation rites, agrarian rites and certain ritual dances. They embody essential notions of procreation, agricultural prosperity, knowledge transmission and group protection.