Archaic Indian Shrine Idol

A carved wooden Hindu devotee sculpture, very well worn and handled suggesting great age, likely 19th century or earlier. India. The figure measures 7.5 inches tall. Provenance: The Robert Banks colle

A carved wooden anthropomorphic effigy with heavy encrusted surface from offerings over many years. Losses to one leg and old stress fractures in the wood. The Idol measures 15 inches tall on custom d

A carved wooden Hindu devotee sculpture, very well worn and handled suggesting some age, likely early to mid 20th century. India. The figure measures 9 inches tall. Provenance: The Prof. Gould collect

A carved wood shrine idol with hands to face in a traditional pose, a deep weathered surface with time worn smooth facial features and remains of legs. The Idol appears to be 19th century and measures

A very old carved wooden shrine idol with a deep well handled surface patina and signs of wear over generations. The sculpture is well carved, note the added jewelry and long pony tail down her back.

A very old and interesting carved wooden shrine idol, with a deep well handled surface patina and almost "cubist" form. The idol measures 18.5 inches tall and will not balance well on its own. Dogon p

Heavily weathered archaic "praying" shrine idol with reddish wood color and undeniable worn surface suggesting great age. The carved wooden effigy measures 10.75 inches tall ( 12.75 inches tall on pro

An ancient carved wooden shrine idol "Alusi" with incised linear designs / scars on the face and traditional form. Such idols were the tools of diviners and priest who would make offerings to the Alus

Archaic and eroded ancient carved wooden shrine idol with classic facial features and in the form of a Bateba Thil Ti Puo, a "Dangerous" Sculpture used in the protection from witchcraft. Lobi peoples,

A well weathered and eroded old shrine idol featuring two faces in either direction, a encrusted surface of ritual offerings and a overall powerful and dramatic presence. Such figures are called bateb

A very old and Primitive wooden shrine idol, likely Chamba or related peoples, Cross River region of Nigeria, Africa. A wonderfully archaic example with primitive carving style and highly stylized for

A carved wooden shrine idol with strong facial features, a tall central animal horn and adorned with animal hide and woven ropes. Such idols are commissioned by the village shaman priest or the nganga

A Archaic looking shrine figure carved from a single piece of dense and heavy wood with a well weathered and eroded surface. Sukuma peoples, Tanzania, East Africa. The figure measures 23.5 inches tall

A fairly large carved wooden archaic looking sculpture with a well weathered surface and wonderful 'movement" suggested with the stylized form. Lobi peoples, Burkina faso, West Africa. The sculpture m

Archaic Senufo Shrine fetish, carved wood heavily encrusted, weathered and repaired base. Such a figure would have likely served as a medium to the spirit world and received offerings and libations on

A archaic carved stone idol from the Fon peoples , likely a shrine object on a Vodun shrine. The stone idol measures 7.5 inches tall. Fon, Togo/ Dahomey , West Africa. Provenance: The Dr Brian Healy e

This is a very old and weathered Teke Buti idol. Buti are named after and identified as specific male ancestors and located in a shrine to one’s deceased family members. Individual male devotees use

This is a very old carved wooden protective idol with unusual primitive features and a very well weathered surface suggesting great age. Note the archaic carved image of a dancer. Such sculptures were

A large and impressive old Pende female ancestor sculpture with well weathered surface and shown with one had to her breast, perhaps suggesting a fertility idol. The hard wood sculpture was painted wi

Carved wooden Bateba Thil or Spirit figure in janus Form with signs or offerings and obvious weathering and age. Lobi peoples, Burkina Faso, West Africa. The Idol has been custom mounted and measures

Carved from a single piece of heavy dense wood and embellished with a kaolin clay natural pigment. This is a powerful and dramatic shrine idol from the Urhobo or The Isoko who reside in the southeast

Antique carved wooden Cult idol of Maximon, The Patron Saint of DRinking and smoking ,also called San Simón,who originally was a Mayan deity and folk saint. Maximón is said to represent both light a

A carved wooden female effigy with thick encrusted sacrificial surface patina that sweats in the sunlight, suggesting years of ritual applications or offerings. Such images of female ancestral spirits

A rare and haunting carved wooden idol from a Brujos shrine, with a small old candle embedded into its head. Such idols are known to have been used by sorcerers in witchcraft and ritual. This idol mea