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Pair of male and female Senufo Pounder figures.
Hand-carved from wood, these figures depict male and female Senufo tribe members.
The male is just a tad taller than the female. The female features a forehead adornment.
Beautifully carved with nice details. Wood is in structurally solid antique condition with normal cosmetic signs of age such as light surface cracking, variation in color, tiny holes, etc.
I purchased from an antiques dealer 31 years ago
Non-smoking home.
Male figure has old damage to the upper lip as shown.
Female figure has small area of old damage to the chest as shown.
Male is 64.5" tall. Female is just a hair smaller at 64".
We have enjoyed these figures in our collection for many years.
SOLD AS A PAIR. Please do not ask if I'll sell them individually. They should not be split up.
SHIPPING or FREE LOCAL PICKUP
If I can find a better shipping rate for you through USPS, UPS, or FEDEX I will do so. The posted shipping rates are calculated by based on the size of the package and your delivery address.
Also available for FREE LOCAL pick up in either the Chelmsford MA or Laconia NH areas. Please reach out BEFORE paying to confirm pickup logistics.
A Senufo rhythm pounder, also known as a deble or pombilele, is a wooden sculpture used by the Senufo people of West Africa, primarily in Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. These figures are not merely decorative but hold significant ritual and social importance. They are used in ceremonies such as funerals and initiations to mark rhythms, call ancestral spirits, and symbolize fertility. Senufo rhythm pounders are held by their upper arms and pounded on the ground to create a rhythmic beat for dances, especially during Poro ceremonies. They are used to purify the path for the deceased at funerals, call upon ancestral spirits, and mark the transitions in coming-of-age rituals. They are considered symbols of fertility and a connection to the departed, often depicted with scarification, elaborate coiffures, and jewelry, representing idealized female beauty.
