Senufo Ancestor Wooden Carving from Ivory Coast

Hornbill figures were a significant symbol used by Lo Society. The hornbill was the mythological founder of the Senufo. They represented protection, stability and fertility. This ancestor figurine depicts a fertile ancestor with a hornbill headdress. It is used in initiations and rituals to pass on tribal history, customs and philosophical beliefs.

This wooden lady is 13 inches tall and its base spans 3 inches.