Senufo Gbag Turtle Bed

Abstract and sculptural, the wooden forms of the Senufo people of Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso are imbued with unique personality that reveal the hand of the maker. This large wooden daybed is no exception, artfully chiseled from a single tree trunk to an elongated, rectangular surface with tapered legs and an elevated headrest. Known as a gbag, the ceremonial bed was used ritually at the center of dance performances to honor the spirits of loved ones and celebrate important events.

This example is sculpted with incredible character, carved with expressive details and a freeform shape that follows the contours of the wood. The sloping headrest is shaped to resemble a turtle, an animal thought by the Senufo to have special ties to the spiritual world. Burnished smooth from years of use, the bed lives on as a modern sculpture, seat, or table.