Bamana Antelope Marionette Head, Mali

the antelope head with long ears, elongated snout and open mouth; on Inagaki base; exceptionally fine dark brown patina.  

Frédérick Henri Lem, Paris
Helena Rubinstein, Paris and New York, by 1954
Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, April 21, 1966, lot 83
Acquired by the present owner at the above auction

New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, temporary loan, October 2001 - April 2002

Anonymous, "Un appartement où régnent la fantaisie et la curiosité," Connaissance des Arts, no. 30, August 15, 1954, p. 18
Suzanne Slesin, Over the Top. Helena Rubinstein: Extraordinary Style. Beauty, Art, Fashion, and Design, New York, 2003, p. 109
Vasco & Co. (eds.), Anonymous Collectors, Brussels, 2007, unpaginated, fol. 3 verso

excellent condition overall for an object of this type and age; ancient loss to right bottom of neck, at rim, (insect damage); minor nicks and scratches, wear and tear from traditional use; exceptionally fine dark brown patina.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Frédérick Henri Lem was an early field collector and collector of African art. He is most famous for his 1948 book Sculptures Soudanaises, the earliest reference book on statuary from Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. Lem intended the whole of his collection to form the core of a Museum of African Art in Dakar. When this project did not materialize, Helena Rubinstein was able to purchase the larger part of his collection (GVR 2008).