These objects are quite rare, as far as I know, and also on the literature, at least those in my possession, I found no references significant in this regard.
The object type is well known: hardwood caps that end with an anthropomorphic representation, in this case only the head, and had to be closed containers, in this case - judging by the length of the stem and the patina - is likely to be elongated jars containing palm oil or a similar fat. The unusual results by ethnicity: for these items were not produced in East Africa, as in most such cases, but in the center of the Kasai region of Congo, probably from the population slope or from Lele (called Leela also). They were part of a group of five similar, all from the New York gallery of Michael Oliver, while another unit of the same type and origin could be seen until recently in the catalog of another American gallery, Leslie Sacks, Los Angeles.
The smallest of my two, purchased from the gallery of Craig De Lora, measuring 20 cm. while the longer 27 cm. They are interesting trinkets, with a good patina, the first time I saw them in pictures and know no size or function, I have "interpreted" as brackets more than a meter high ... But this is one of the most popular features, and unique, a kind of "African art", which can develop a sense of monumentality in the viewer even after from small pieces.
0 comments:
Post a Comment