Debira Pendant - Gan Culture, Burkina Faso - 19th Century

DEBIRA PENDANT depicting a SERPENT with a sinuous body, the end of its tail ending in a ringed ring, the suspension ring is placed under its neck - which is decorated with a textured register of braided strips. Gan culture, Burkina Faso
19th century
Copper alloy
Length: 13.3 cm; Length: 3.1 cm

Debira pendants are the plastic expression of the Torfan. He is a spiritual entity who can manifest himself in many forms, such as a snake, tortoise, chameleon, panther or caiman. Its representations can vary, and fetishes can have from one to ten heads.
A protective figure, it keeps evil spirits away from people and livestock, and favours harvests and hunting.

N°171 from the "Bronzes, miniatures monumentales" exhibition-sale.