Lobi Carved Wood Y-Shaped Ladder, West Africa

West Africa, Burkina Faso, Lobi. A large Lobi wooden ladder carved from a single forked tree trunk. The upper end divides into a broad Y-shaped fork, and the shaft below is cut with a series of stepped notches. The steps run along one side of the trunk and follow the natural line of the wood. Ladders of this form were used to reach rooftops and granaries, with the fork resting against a wall or roof edge. Adze marks are visible across the shaft and the step faces, and the wood has a polished patina from use. The Lobi live in southwestern Burkina Faso and the nearby borderlands of Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. Traditionally, families lived in large, fortress-like earthen compounds with few openings, and much of household life took place on the flat roof terraces, where grain was dried and stored and people slept in the hot season. A ladder carved from a single log was the usual way to reach the roof. Because it was loose and light enough to lift, it could be pulled up after the last person climbed. Ladders of this type are also made by other peoples of the region, including the Dogon of Mali, and they have long been collected for their bold, minimal profiles. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 203967

Estimate:£673.06

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