Description:

Western Africa, Republic of Benin, Fon peoples, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden effigy figure depicting a highly stylized simian creature in a seated position with legs crossed in front of its slender body. The figure holds both arms against its head and jawline as its sinuous tail courses up its back. The bulbous head features an anthropomorphic visage of almond-shaped eyes, a slender nose, and full lips with a delineated philtrum, and the nearly spherical skull cap is topped with a heavily incised coiffure. Areas of applied orange-brown mud pigment are visible across the composition. Size: 3.3" W x 10.9" H (8.4 cm x 27.7 cm); 12.375" H (31.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Jersey City, New Jersey, USA collection; ex-Budrose collection, Massachusetts, USA; ex-Marc Assayag collection, Montreal, Canada

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#169917

  • Condition: Losses to areas of base, feet, and verso, with spalls and inactive insect damage, abrasions to pigment, and several stable fissures across the surfaces. Nice preservation to figural form. Old inventory number written in orange pigment along verso. Figure is removable from display stand.

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March 3, 2022 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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