Two Lobi janus-headed Stools by Sikire Kambiré (1896-1963)

the longer of the two with a waisted curved oval seat supported by three legs, on the back the flat janus head in profile with drilled pupils and nostrils, incised hair and crescent coiffure, the shorter of the two of a similar composition with smaller coiffure; fine aged patina.

The particular style of these two fine stools, featuring flat janus heads with drilled pupils and nostrils, crested coiffure and coloration in dark pigment, mirrors the trademarks of the famous Lobi carver Sikire Kambiré who lived in Gaoua from 1896 to 1963. Cf. Meyer (1981: 141, plate 189) for a closely related example by the same hand from the collection of the Rietberg Museum in Zurich and Sothebys New York, April 21, 1966, lot 93 for another one from the Helena Rubinstein Collection.