Beautiful small head sculpture ·  Mozambique/Tanzania, Mueada Plateau, Makonde · ID: 3040568

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.

The object Beautiful small head sculpture with the object ID 3040568 was part of the auction 83rd Tribal Art Auction on May 28, 2016. The object with the lot number 528 achieved a sales price of EUR 6,500 with an asking price of EUR 4,500.

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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. 73

AHDRC: 0086697