Kissi Stone Horse and Ride AMBASSADOR COLLECTION Start Price USD 850.00 Current Price USD 850.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, October 28, 2008 End Time Thursday, November 27, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Kissi Stone Horse and Ride AMBASSADOR COLLECTION' Description Title:  Pomdo  Figure of Horse and riderType of Object: Stone sculptureEthnic Group: KissiCountry of Origin: Sierra LeoneMaterials: StoneApproximate Age: 1500-1800sDimensions: 12.5 inches highOverall Condition: Some surface abrasions with slight marking.Damage, Repair:Provenance: From the Collection of Ambassador Patricia and Mr. Richard Hawkins. Ambassador Hawkins is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Togo. She has previously served the State Department in Zaire, now Democratic Republic of the Congo; Burkina Faso; and Cote d'Ivoire. Richard Hawkins is also a career Foreign Service Diplomat. Both of them have connoisseur's eyes. The Hawkins' have collected African art for many years, and we are delighted to offer a portion of their magnificent collection. Information:   This remarkable sculpture showing a hunched over figure riding a horse comes from the Kissi people of Guinea. Sculpted out of soapstone, a soft stone that can be easily carved much like wood the sculptor has created an interesting and uncommon image of a figure sitting on either a blanket or a low saddle.  The rider holds onto a halter that wraps around the horse's head and neck reaching back from the horse's grimacing mouth. THe portrayal of the horse's mouth with prominent teeth showing is seen in other animal and even some human figures from the Kissi with some age associated to them. A rectangular cross-hatched pattern is worked into the surface of the horse's shoulder with a set of marks on the upper arm of the rider.  A series of small marks similar to chip marks made by the point of a knife decorate the underbelly of the horse.This is a rare stone image carved in steatite that could date back hundreds of years among the Kissi people. Oral and mythic histories reported that figures such as this were kept in shrines or simply put at the side of a farmer's filed so that they could work the fields.  There was in fact no great reverence paid to them.The majority of Kissi figures are shown as seated or in a crouched position.  However there are no published examples of an image of mounted rider recorded elsewhere.  Sculpted stone figures  among the Kissi are known as Pontam (singular) and  Pomdo (plural).   THere is no history of them being carved in the modern period and are said by the Kissi and their Temne neighbors that the figures are very old.  There is a complex history identified within this stretch of the Atlantic coast of people called he Manes who rode into the region on horses about 400 years ago and this figure might be based upon this early contact between mounted warriors of the western.  Whatever the inspiration and meaning this is a sculpture that will serve as a centerpiece for a collection.It must be noted that stone figures are also found among the among the Mende people close neighbors of the Kissi. THe figures are rounder in proportion and with much fleshier faces shown.  Known as Nomoli these stone figures are upon occasion venerated and placed in rice fields where it is thought they will assist in the growth and harvest of rice. When found in the fields the Nomoli figures are placed in make-shift shrines and given small bits of food the keep their spiritual potential to serve the farmer with his crop.**041361** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!