Small Bronze Tribal Figural Sculpture, Possibly West African, 20th Century

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Small Bronze Tribal Figural Sculpture, Possibly West African, 20th Century
Dimensions: 2.5" H x 2.5" D x 1.5" W

A … Read more Small Bronze Tribal Figural Sculpture, Possibly West African, 20th Century
Dimensions: 2.5" H x 2.5" D x 1.5" W

A powerful and expressive small-scale bronze figural sculpture, likely West African in origin, cast using the lost-wax (cire perdue) method, evident from the hollow interior and textured surface typical of traditional hand casting. The work depicts two horned, zoomorphic figures—possibly mythological or ancestral beings—locked in an animated pose atop an openwork oval base ringed with stylized, upright elements that resemble teeth or flames.

The composition suggests a ritual or mythic scene. One figure straddles the other in a dominant stance, baring its fangs and flaring its nostrils with expressive energy, while the figure below reclines with equally dramatic facial features and outstretched limbs. Both figures are adorned with minimalistic jewelry and anatomical exaggerations, common in symbolic storytelling through traditional sculpture.

The sculpture’s scale and form suggest it may have served as a protective fetish, shrine object, or narrative ornament, rich in cosmological or ancestral meaning. The worn patina and reddish-brown oxidation indicate age and handling, adding to its tactile and visual depth.

While unmarked, the piece shows strong affinities with bronzes from the Benin or Yoruba regions of Nigeria or, alternatively, tribal groups in Burkina Faso or Mali, known for animist bronze casting traditions that explore themes of dominance, protection, fertility, and transformation.

A captivating object that blurs the line between sculpture and storytelling, ideal for collectors of ethnographic art or small-scale bronzes with a strong narrative presence. See less