Bobo Bronze Vase with Chameleons Mali MATTER COLLECTION

Decorative bronze vase with fitted lid, featuring sculptural chameleon motifs, attributed to the Bobo people of Burkina Faso. Cast using traditional lost-wax techniques, the vessel reflects the rich metalworking traditions of West Africa.

The chameleon is a significant symbol in many African cultures, often associated with transformation, adaptability, and spiritual awareness. Both functional and decorative, this piece highlights the artistry and symbolic storytelling found in African bronze casting traditions.

The Bobo people are skilled carvers who create intricate wooden sculptures and masks. Their carvings are characterized by their striking forms, elegant lines, and intricate detailing. 

In the literature on African art they are often called the Bobo-Fing, but they call themselves Bobo. They number 130,000. They live in eastern Burkina Faso, and also in Mali. They are farmers. The major food crops are sorghum, millet, yams, and maize. They grow cotton and peanuts as cash crops. Their lives are regulated by a council of elders. The notion of having a chief is profoundly foreign to them and they consider it to be dangerous -- as waging a severe attack on the order of things as established by the god.

Provenance: Matter Collection

From the collection of Margie and Phil Matter. Margie lived in South Africa, and later she and her husband Phil opened a gallery in Tucson. Everything in this collection was in their home for more than thirty years. Africa Direct recently bought the collection; at 95, Margie wants to share the things she has loved so much.

153530