Old Lobi Bateba Betise Couple Figure – Burkina Faso – Ex French Collection

Carved wood with deep aged patina. Height: 24 cm (9.45 in.), 26 cm (10.24 in.) including custom stand. Weight: 246.5 g (8.69 oz.). Condition consistent with age and traditional use.

This old Lobi Bateba Betise figure depicts a standing couple united in a single sculptural composition. Such figures formed part of the spiritual traditions of the Lobi peoples of Burkina Faso, where bateba figures were commissioned as intermediaries between the human world and the spirit realm.

The Lobi are well known for their animist beliefs and their relationship with spiritual beings known as Thila. These spirits were believed to inhabit both natural places and man-made objects, including anthropomorphic shrine figures such as bateba. Through offerings and ritual practices, bateba figures were called upon to promote protection, fertility, harmony, health, and general well-being within the household and community.

The sculpture displays the characteristic Lobi aesthetic, with elongated bodies, simplified geometric features, and a beautifully worn surface acquired through age, ritual use, and handling. The paired composition may symbolize social balance, family continuity, or complementary spiritual forces.

Provenance: former French collection.

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