Antique of the Week: African Fertility Goddess Statue

The Ivory Coast of Africa, home of the Senufo tribe, is nearly 5,000 miles from Riverhead. But a piece of tribal art has traveled the distance and is now for sale at The Junque Shop in Riverside.

The piece of art is a fertility goddess statue, made by the Senufo tribe, which is made up of different groups that migrated together during the 15th and 16th centuries, according to Professor Christopher Roy at the University of Iowa.

Senufo art is quite popular and can be found in galleries across the United States.  The Jembetat Gallery in Rochester is one such gallery. The gallery's website gives detailed information regarding the Senufo tribe.

Senufo sculpture, considerable in quantity, came to be in demand in Europe very early on, which caused a flourishing of studios. Large-sized sculptures are of note, called pombibele, or children of the poro, and used during the funerals of poro members. Among the Senufo of the central regions, they are merely displayed while, in the south, they play a dynamic role in dance rituals and processions. The sandogo society also uses large statues, not easily distinguishable from the poro's.

The sculpture currently available at The Junque Shop is being sold for $400.