This lovely small talisman has been made using a traditional figurative form carved from wood and sealed in a leather skin with eyes made from magically significant seeds. there also appear to be one or two other seeds or similar objects sealed behind the leather.
It is possible that the shape of this figure represents a turtle rather than a human, but this is only my personal thought, – as i’m aware that in Tiv ritual culture the turtle is considered a a spiritually valuable animal which has been historically used for sacrifice in particularly important rituals, – as said, this is only one possible guess based on the shape of the Talisman body…
What is sure is that traditional Tiv culture is extremely sophisticated and rich with ‘magical’ ritual practices and beliefs. The creation, exchange, and sale of magical amulets and talisman remains a regular part of contemporaray Tiv culture and as most illness and misfortune is believed to have supernatural origins, protective magical objects are a part of daily life.
This piece came from a very experienced trader, herself from Africa, who aquired it on one of her trips there, it has been made in recent years by an indigenous Tiv tribe amulet and talisman maker. Only select members of the community with special knowledge can make and sell magical artefacts.
