The William W. Brill Collection of African Art

/

Lot 42
  • 42

A Fine Baule Standing Female Figure

Estimate
6,000 - 9,000 USD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

standing on a semispherical base, with elegantly shaped legs, pointed breasts, with the left hand holding up a bird, the right hand slightly below in upright position; 'LS 1155' and '412' on base; fine red brown overall.

Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. P. Sterckx, Brussels
Henri L. Schouten, Amsterdam, August 15, 1968

 

Exhibited

Tervuren, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Art d'Afrique Dans Les Collections Belges, June 29 - October 30, 1963
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Milwaukee Public Museum, Selections from The William W. Brill Collection of African Art, May 5 - August 31, 1969 (for additional venues see bibliography, Milwaukee 1969)

Literature

Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, 1963: 73, no. 406 (unillustrated), catalogue of the exhibition Tervuren, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, June 29 - October 30, 1963
Milwaukee 1969: 18, figure 24

Catalogue Note

The position of the right hand suggests that the woman originally was holding something in her hand, probably a knife. Sacrifice as the subject matter for Baule sculpture is extremely rare making this sculpture a unique example within the canon of Baule art.

An early acquisition, Brill made note of this figure and its unusual iconography in a 1969 television interview in conjunction with the Duluth, Minnesota leg of the exhibition of his collection.