Carved wooden male figure with long arms attached to body, and legs terminating unevenly. Belly protrudes a bit, head is round, nose and mouth have darker patina than rest of figure.

Bocio, 19th–early 20th century, Fon peoples, Republic of Benin, wood, bone, metal wire, sacrificial materials (including dog skull), 49.5 x 14.6 x 14.3 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Standing at the entrance of a village, a courtyard, a house, or a shrine, they served a protective function, barring the entrance of evil spirits. These were not portraits or specific spirits, rather, the carved figure in human form is a repository or decoy for a spiritual force.

The Fon kingdom of Dahomey, founded in the early seventeenth century, was an important regional power renowned for its strong monarchy, military prowess, and impressive court arts. Dahomey’s influence expanded in the eighteenth century with the …

This janus figure crowned by a dog's skull powerfully embodies notions of guardianship and surveillance. Such works, known as bocio, are prescribed by Fon priests and diviners to promote their clients' well being.

Title: Buffalo figure. Date: 19th century. Geography: Republic of Benin, Abomey. Culture: Fon peoples, Danhomè Kingdom. Medium: Silver, iron, wood, copper alloy. Dimensions: H. 13 3/16 × W. 9 × D. 18 3/4 in. (33.5 × 22.9 × 47.6 cm) Classification: Metal-Ornaments

FON, FIGURES, Republic of Benin Figures made of iron and brass were displayed in royal compounds to affirm kingly power. They usually depicted a king with related motifs.

Title: Elephant Figure. Date: 19th century. Geography: Republic of Benin, City of Abomey. Culture: Fon peoples. Medium: Silver (silver/copper alloy) Dimensions: H. 8 5/8 × W. 5 1/2 × D. 23 5/8 in. (21.8 × 14 × 60 cm) Classification: Metal-Sculpture

Feb 20, 2017 · Fon, Benin (formerly Dahomey): a sacred power figure of the ‘voodoo cult’, called ‘boccio’, with much ‘magic material’ and patina. The Fon are a large tribe (1.2 million) in today’s country of Benin (formerly Dahomey). The Fon constitute the centre of …

The small head in front of the figure is very likely older and sculpted by the same hand as the important Fon figure collected by Jacques Kerchache around 1950–1960, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York (see Leuzinger, E., Die Kunst von Schwarz-Afrika, Zurich, 1970, p.129, fig.H 9).