HAITIAN VODOU FIGURE C.1950

Carved wood male bust, 9 ¾” height. Fully modeled head with dreadlocks and cat fur hair. The torso with matching fur to the shoulders and carved with a cross belt. The right shoulder with a further face carved. The mouth with two drilled holes, presumably to receive ritual material. The figure represents a soldier or police officer, indicated by the cross belt and epaulettes.  Vodou evolved in the Caribbean among African slaves based in traditional religion, blended with Roman Catholic beliefs. It began with the successful Haitian Revolution of 1791 which defeated French colonial forces and transformed Saint-Domingue into the republic of Haiti. As Catholic missionaries left for decades, Vodou incubated and evolved.