A figure from Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga embodies the Wild Woman. If encountered she will either eat you, put you to work or give you advice. If she gives you advice, the outcome will be better than you could imagine. If she puts you to work, the work will be hard but you will do better than you ever dreamed possible. If she eats you, well, better luck in the next life! In story and song, she is a Russian witch, best known for her dealings with Vasalisa. Around the mortar are images from one of these tales. She rides her mortar, using her pestle as a rudder and sweeps away her tracks with a broom as she travels the night sky. She lives in a log cabin that either moves around on a pair of dancing chicken legs, is surrounded by a palisade with a skull on each pole, or both. The keyhole to her front door is a mouth filled with sharp teeth; the fence outside is made with human bones with skulls on top, often with one pole lacking its skull, leaving space for the hero or heroes. In another legend, the hut does not reveal the door until it is told a magical phrase: “Turn your back to the forest, your front to me”. This beautiful statue is perfect for any lover of Baba Yaga or for use on your special ritual space. Note: Colour of statue is now more wood tone.
