GJPaw Auctions is pleased to offer a beautiful beaded fetish doll, from the Kirdi, Cameroon, West Africa. Kirdi (The term is comes from the Kanuri word meaning "pagan") is a broad, collective name for a number of people groups living in northern Cameroon, southeastern Nigeria, and southwestern Chad. In Africa, as elsewhere, humankind has fashioned sculptures after familiar objects in the form of talismans and assigned them therapeutic effects.  This practice is occasional and arises from the desire, and need, to bring about a specific event or resolve a specific situation in an individual’s life. Among the Kirdi, when a man decides to marry, he commissions a doll to be made from a carved wood base and embellishes it with glass beads, shells, metal pieces and other small objects. The doll represents the desired gender of his future child and is a symbol of the marriage commitment. The decoration also refers to the bestowing of wishes, and finally, individual growth leading to an honored place in society. The doll is presented to an intended bride, who cares for it, and wears it strapped on her back or at her waist as she would her child and as a testament of her devotion as a wife. The beaded fetish is a reminder of the power of the individual, relating to their capacity to lead a fruitful life leading to abundance and the fulfillment of material needs. Like many objects in African art, they are infused with a multitude of meanings. Glass beads in particular as decoration and symbols of power, authority and social status, have a long and fabled history in African art. Historians believe these rare and valuable gems known as “trade beads” made their way into Africa overseas or through camel caravan routes that connected ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean. The beads we see today in most 20th century African art are predominantly Dutch and Italian glass trade beads. This highly characteristic doll measures 3 inches in width by 3 inches in depth by 10.5 inches in length (7.62 cm by 7.62 cm by 26.6 cm), including the specially designed, hand-made, iron museum display stand. It is in very good condition and dates to the late 20th century. It is a fine collector’s piece for anyone interested in African adornment or textiles. It is guaranteed authentic.

 GJPaw Auctions has been in the Art business for over 35 years and is now expanding its operation to eBay. Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the globe at Primitive in Chicago.  Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. We ship worldwide. Add GJPaw to Sellers you Follow and please take a moment to look at our other auction items.

A0211-735