Bamana Power Figure (Boli) pottery Fading to some finer features

Fading to some finer features

Published by: The University Museum

The multi-tiered composition may symbolize cosmological or social hierarchies

Age-related heavy wear and abrasion

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Bamana Power Figure (Boli) pottery Fading to some finer featuresBamana people, early to mid 20th century, Mali, West Africa An exceptional and rare Bamana boli power figure, constructed from a tortoise shell heavily over modelled with layers of potent organic and mineral materialsmud, eggs, cloth, goat horn, honey, beer, and human and animal excrement. Over decades of ritual use, its dense, crusted surface has accumulated further sacrificial offerings including blood, millet porridge, and alcohol, each application