Busacca Gallery

This is rare to find something old like this. It comes from around islamic africa. a Human Representation of a culture a primitive fertility figure, this is a wood carving. This tribal doll was attacked and defaced by a knife of some kind. Carved in a softwood. Big abrasions/scrapes to back, wood loss at chin, nose, breasts, and Genitals. missing arms and all of its toes. This female doll figure "spirit spouse" figure expresses Baule ideas of physical beauty and moral virtue. The erect bearing indicates a morally upright person.The hands were held obediently at the sides and the modest stance of the feet give the figure a respectful attitude that shows good character. Physical perfection is shown in the healthy body, the strong neck able to bear heavy loads on the head and the muscular calves of the hard worker. The pointed breasts and rounded buttocks signify maturity and sexual attractiveness, and thus the promise of children. Of all the major religions of the world, Islam is the only one that actively promotes or condones the denigration and subjugation of women, severe physical amputation or death for even minor offences, mutilation of women's genitals for no logical reason and many other unsavoury and barbaric practices that have no place in any civilised society.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_dolls

African Dolls African dolls across the continent are created for young girls to play with and as a charm to insure fertility in women. Their shape and costume vary according to region and custom. Frequently dolls are handed down from mother to daughter. Western dolls are popular in Africa and are often dressed with traditional garb. In some African tribes during courtship, a suitor will place a doll outside a young woman's hut, indicating his intention to propose marriage to her. When a young woman is preparing to marry, she is given a doll that she names and cares for. Her first child is then named for the doll.