Sale 214 Lot 469

IVORY COAST SENUFO HEDDLE HORNBILL PULLEY Patinated and heavily incised Senufo heddle pulley from West Africa (likely Ivory Coast) is a functional work of art designed to hold the heddles on a traditional strip-weaving loom. Carved from a single piece of dark, aged wood, the pulley features a stylized calao (hornbill) head, a sacred animal in Senufo culture that symbolizes fertility, prosperity, and the first ancestor. The neck of the bird arches gracefully into a rectangular frame decorated with geometric cross-hatching and a relief carving of a four-legged animal, possibly a lizard or crocodile, which further connects the object to the spirit world and the wearer's protection. The bottom of the frame houses a functional wooden bobbin, while a simple cord at the top allowed it to be suspended from the loom. Such objects are highly valued by collectors for their blend of utilitarian purpose and sophisticated sculptural design, representing the deep integration of art and daily labor within Senufo society. Height (including base): 13.5 inches
$150-200