Senufo Heddle Pulley - Woman with naked breasts and traditional hairdo

Beautiful heddle pulley. A wood pulley in the form of a stylized woman with a spindle wheel that rotates freely on the horizontal rod. The figure has breasts decorated with incised lines, an elongated neck with a face that just forward, heavy lidded eyes and dramatic crested coiffure. Heddle pulleys were used by the Senufo on narrow band looms to ease the movements of heddles - part of the looping mechanism of a loom. Although functional, they were often embellished to symbolize the skill of the weaver and were sometimes prominently displayed. 

Date: 19/20th Century
Origin: Senufo
Country: Ivory coast
Material: Wood
Height: 20 cm

Expected surface wear with crack, abrasions commensurate with age and use. The wood has developed a warm patina resulting from age and use.