| BOLI figure |
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| 20" long x 13" high (NO LONGER IN MY COLLECTION) Wood, clay, horns, cloth, animal hair, shells, parts of feathers on the back, libations The horn on the top comes out and so does the plug in the back. The middle section of the figure is wrapped in cloth and there are the bases of feathers wrapped in the cloth and at the back of the figure is some kind of animal hair. Shells are placed in the figure from the front of the figure up to the horn on the hump of the figure. The legs are wrapped in thin strips of cloth like sting. The surface of the figure is encrusted. The figure is in unusual style and it just has a wonderful abstract nature to it that I love. It's much better appreciated in person. CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION |
| Other examples for reference purposes |
| Zoomorphic shrine object, Bamana; Mali Wood, sacrificial materials, clay; L. 21" Like the mask form, this object can serve as an altarpiece and is kept in a secluded sanctuary. Boli sculpture depicts an animal such as a hippopotamus or cow but in ritual use builds into a dark accumulation of mud and sacrificial materials in which the form becomes ambiguous. Used for the good of the association and community in dispelling evil, it is regarded with fear and loathing by non-initiates in Bamana society. The simple form of this example abstracts the nature of "animal" almost to its limits, depicting the quintessential idea within the image. From the website for the book - Remnants of Ritual - Selections from the Gelbard Collection of African art http://www.remnantsofritual.com/gallery/008.html |
| Bovine Figure (Boli), 19th–20th century Mali; Bamana Wood, sacrificial materials (patina); L. 20 1/2 in. (52.07 cm) The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979 (1979.206.175) Metropolitan Museum of Art |
| Los Angeles County Museum of Art Africa, Republic of Mali, Bamana peoples Boli (Komo Society Altar) 20th century Wood, bark, clay, blood conglomerate Height: 26 in. (66 cm) M.90.7 Sculpture; Ritual/ceremonial object Gift of the Gerard Junior Foundation |
| A fine Bamana Boli figure of abstract zoomorphic quadruped form, the thick legs supporting a massive body and extended head with a hump at the neck; heavily encrusted varied patina. length 25in. (63.5cm.) by height 19in. (48.3cm.) Cf. Brett-Smith (1994: figure 1) for a related example and discussion. A Boli is an assemblage of diverse materials in animal, human or unidentifiable form. It is placed on the altar of a men's power association sanctuary. A Boli is viewed as an embodiment of spiritual forces and as such provides a reservoir of power that can be harnessed at appropriate times. There is no field information about how these unusual objects are constructed and very little solid evidence about their composition. X-rays of numerous Boli figures, including that in the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, for instance, and the lot offered here reveal an interior infrastructure of nails and possibly wood surmounted by an amorphous bundle. Estimate $12,000-18,000 SOLD $26,625.00 |
| Sotheby's May 1999 Lot 174 - A Bamana Boli figure in the form of an amorphous bull with tapering legs beneath an immense rounded body with prominent hump over the shoulders and composed of a dense and varied mud pack overlaying a wooden infrastructure. length 19.5in. (49.5cm.) Cf. Brett-Smith, The Making of Bamana Scupture, 1994:24 figure 1. These sculptures were used as portable altars, they serve a practical purpose as does most sculpture within the Bamana community. According to Brett-Smith they are "used by high ranking male members of the feared Komo association to focus power from the spirit world. The unique heavily encrusted surface on these objects is the result of a compilation of a variety of sacrificial elements such as wood, bark, tree roots, cotton, animal hair, blood and other substances applied as an offering over to the spirits. Estimate - $8,000-12,000 |
| Sotheby's - New York African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art Auction Date : May 12, 2005 Lot 39 : PROPERTY FROM A CANADIAN PRIVATE COLLECTION A FINE BAMANA, KÒNÒ ASSOCIATION, POWER FIGURE Description boli, the quadraped with splayed legs supporting a rounded body with protruding snout and conical hump, a hollow cylinder for the insertion of magic at the reverse; varied and encrusted greyish surface with evidence of organic materials. CATALOGUE NOTE Cf. Colleyn (2001: 193 and 242, figures 173 and 173) for related power figures and discussion. The offered lot would have been used as a portable altar. The heavily encrusted surface results from the layering of sacrificial elements such as wood, bark, tree roots, cotton, hair, blood and other substances. Once anointed it emanates nyama, or energy and power. Dimensions length 23in. 58.5cm Estimate: $ 12,000 - $ 18,000 |
| Sotheby's - New York African & Oceanic Art Auction Date : Nov 14, 2003 Lot 3 : A FINE BAMANA, KÓNÓ ASSOCIATION, BOLI FIGURE Description DETAILED DESCRIPTION the quadraped of abstract zoomorphic form, the large massive body and rounded snout beneath a conical hump; varied and encrusted grayish surface with evidence of organic materials. Dimensions height 17 3/4 in. 45cm Estimate:$ 15,000 - $ 25,000 Price Realized:$ 0 Provenance PROPERTY FROM A FRENCH COLLECTION Notes Cf. Colleyn, ed. (2001: 193, figures 172 and 194, figure 175) for related figures and discussion. |
| Sotheby's - New York African and Oceanic Art Auction Date : Nov 16, 2001 Lot 17 : A fine Bamana Boli figure Description A fine Bamana Boli figure of abstract zoomorphic form, with four short asymmetrical legs, and supporting an elongated massive body beneath a conical rounded hump at the front and a protruding rounded snout; fine and varied encrusted deep brown patina. length 25 1/2 in. (64.8cm.) Cf. Brett-Smith (1994:24, figure 1) for a related example and discussion. These amorphous zoomoprphic sculptures were used by the Bamana as portable altars. The unusual heavily encrusted surface on boliresults from the layers of a variety of sacrificial elements such as wood, bark, tree roots, cotton, animal hair, blood and other substances applied as an offering to the spirits. Dimensions length 25 1/2 in. (64.8 Estimate:$ 12,000 - $ 18,000 Price Realized:$ 24,900 |
| Boli figures can also take the abstract human form, as well as other abstract forms that are different than the examples I have shown on this page. The figure above is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY |