Beautiful small head sculpture · Mozambique/Tanzania, Mueada Plateau, Makonde · ID: 3040568
sold
EUR 6,500
Provenance
Frits van den Berghe, Ghent, Belgium (1883-1939)Gilbert Périer, Brussels, Belgium
Pierre Langlois, Paris, France
Size
H: 15 cm
H: 5.9 inch
Description
light weighted wood, reddish brown and dark brown paint, eyes with glass inlay and painted pupils, lip plug indicated (black encrusted patina), open mouth with filed teeth, scarification marks on forehead, temples and cheeks, inscribed on the underside “P1” for two times, slightly dam., scratches, abrasion of paint, minor missing parts (right ear, mouth, neck, coiffure), recess above the left eye, on blocklike base;
form of the head and facial features reminding of the “lipiko” helmet masks. Separately carved heads are rare in East Africa art, and occur only under European influence. It is probable that this head was part of a complete figure.
Comparing literature
Publications
Bastin, Marie-Louise, Introduction aux arts d' Afrique noire, Arnouville 1990, ill. 411; Holý Ladislav, Masks and Figures from Eastern and Southern Africa, Prague,1967, ill. 73AHDRC: 0086697