Colon figure · D. R. Congo, Loango Coast · ID: 3035509
Description
wood, brown patina, closed semicircular eyes, the arch of the brows carved in relief, a triangular flattened nose, slightly open mouth with visible teeth, protruding ears high up on the skull, min. dam., cracks, small missing parts (right ear), traces of abrasion (esp. at the back);
coming from the same workshop as the seven figures from the Corona collection (formerly Museo Nazionale Preistorico ed Etnografico Rome, now in the museum in Reggio Emilia).The objects were acquired by Luigi Pigorini together with a large collection from the italian explorer Giuseppe Corona, who collected them in West Africa on a trip in 1887. The unknown artisans worked on order, creating sculptures for sale to foreign sailors and travelers who wished to bring back from Africa “curious” and “typical” objects.
The object Colon figure with the object ID 3035509 was last part of the auction 74th tribal art auction at September 7, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 312.
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Comparing literature
Ezio Bassani, "19th Century Airport Art", in: African Arts, Vol. 12, No. 2 (Feb., 1979), pp. 34-35+90, ill. 1-7