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LOBI Two Hunters' Ivory Prestige Pendants (15/15.5 cm)
Two thick, beautifully carved ivory pendants. One features a wide, flat body topped with a stylized, horizontal double-headed finial. The other has a distinct, T-shaped crest above a long, tapered rectangular body. Both possess large suspension holes and an exquisite, deeply mottled, glossy, honey-caramel patina.
1. Aesthetic Style and Regional Traits
These ivory pendants from the Lobi (or related Gurunsi) people represent a radical departure from figurative carving. They are entirely abstract, relying on strong, geometric silhouettes — the T-shape and the horizontal double-head — to convey spiritual weight. This abstraction is deeply tied to their function: they are not meant to represent a human ancestor, but rather to serve as highly concentrated, physical batteries for protective, talismanic magic. Abstract pendant forms in ivory are unusual within the West African corpus and indicate a specific regional preference for non-figurative talismanic carving.
2. Ritual Function and Hunter Prestige
Identified as hunters' pendants, these objects are deeply significant. In traditional West Africa, the elephant hunter is a figure of immense bravery, skill, and spiritual fortitude, as he must outwit both the massive beast and the dangerous spirits of the deep bush. Wearing large, abstract pendants carved from the tusk of an elephant is the ultimate display of the hunter's prowess, serving as both a badge of honor and a magical shield against future dangers. The material itself — taken directly from the hunted elephant — embodies the hunter's confrontation with bush power.
3. Physical Patina and Age Verification
The visual splendor of these two objects lies entirely in their surface. The dense, white ivory has been transformed by decades of continuous, intimate contact with the human body. The surface has absorbed sweat, natural oils, and the red dust of the Sahel, resulting in a breathtaking, deeply mottled, and highly glossy honey-to-caramel patina. The smooth wear around the large suspension holes further verifies their long, active life as wearable amulets.
