Standing female figure
Flagel-Portier, Paris, “Collection Paul Rupalley”, 16.3.1930, lot 166, pl. I
American Private Collection
Pace Gallery, New York, USA (2001)
American Private Collection
Description
wood, black patina, metal rings, phantastic high towering coiffure with roof-like projecting lobes to the front and to the rear, raised knob-shaped scarifications, slightly dam. (nose, breasts), minor missing parts (right foot tip);
The African and Oceanic Art Collection of Paul Rupalley was exhibited at the Exposition de l’Art Indigène des Colonies Francaises, held at the Pavillion de Marsan in Paris in 1923; the collection was then sold in Paris in March 1930.
Sculptures of the Agni are quite rare, which is why they are difficult to attribute. The main reason for that is the fact that within the short period of time from 1910 up to 1930 they got out of usage. In 1914 the famous liberian prophet William Harris reached the Ivory Coast and his burning speeches affected whole tribes to abandon their statues and old rites. As a consequence of this a great number of statues from the laguna region were destroyed and only a few examples survived in museums or private collections.