Dan, Yacuba Diviners Bowl, Extraordinary Start Price USD 2,200.00 Current Price USD 2,200.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, May 08, 2008 End Time Thursday, May 15, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Dan, Yacuba Diviners Bowl, Extraordinary' Description Title: Diviner's container or Poro Society Type of Object: artifact, ritual container, bowl Ethnic Group: Dan/Yacuba Country of Origin: Cote d'ivoire, Liberia Materials: Wood, Hair, Cowry, White Kaolin (Clay), fabric, vegetal fiber, unknown material, and Tusk Approximate Age: Mid to late 20th century Dimensions: Height is 12 inches; diameter is 10 inches Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair:Old minor cracks and chips, worn patina Additional Information: Patina is encrusted inside the bowl and on various portions of its surface. This extraordinary lidded bowl is identified to the Dan/Yacuba people of Liberia and Cote D'Ivoire. The identity with Poro, the mens governing secret society, comes as a result of the elaborate carving of the handle and bowl. The lid is composed of a mask-like form with braided hair and an animal tusk serving as a handle. In addition a number of faces are carved in relief on the side of the bowl and heads carved in the round serve as supporting legs for the bowl. All of the faces on the side of the bowl and the supporting heads have a ridge of hair attached. Leaves carved in relief and cowry shells form a design pattern between the heads on the side of the bowl. The painting of the areas around the eyes with white clay dramatizes the face carved in high relief on the lid. Also among the people of the Guinea Coast and elsewhere in Africa, cowry shells are forms of currency and the white color of the shells has symbolic meaning. This old and well used bowl, complexly carved as it is and if used during Poro Society rituals would obviously have been a very powerful and magically charged object.If it is a diviners bowl it would be consistent with religious practice throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Priests, priestesses and diviners will use special containers while performing their ritual duties holding their magical devices to allow them to see the future and determine events to come and forestall malevolent spirits. Containers carved as this with a mask as the lid with an animals tusk as handle as well as power symbol and badges of office and as a means to add to their power.I have examined this piece and agree with the descriptionNiangi Batulukisi, Ph.D. **007621** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!