Superbe cuiller-pilon , Kulango, Côte d'Ivoire

Jean-Paul Delcourt, Abidjan
Antoine Ferrari de la Salle, Abidjan
Collection Ewa et Yves Develon, Paris

Exposée dans:
Chefs-d'œuvre, trésors, et quoi encore... , Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Lyon, 14 septembre 2001 - 24 mars 2002

Reproduite dans:
Berjonneau et Sonnery, Chefs-d'œuvre inédits de l'Afrique Noire, 1987 : 270, n° 273
Kerchache, Paudrat et Stephan, L'Art Africain, 1988 : 377, n° 336

Very good condition overall; wear consistent with age and use within the culture.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Cette cuiller-pilon anthropomorphe se distingue par la puissance de ses volumes et par la très belle dynamique des formes épurées, jouant de profil sur une succession de plans profondément inclinés, l'imposant comme la plus belle du type.
L'évocation symbolique d'un personnage féminin stylisé selon les formes géométriques d'une cuiller se retrouve dans l'œuvre d'artistes occidentaux, telles que Spoon Woman (1926) d'Alberto Giacometti, conservée au Guggenheim Museum, New York (inv. 55.1414). cf. Dapper (1991 : 68) et Goldet (2001 : 162, n° 223) pour une cuiller comparable dans la collection Hubert Goldet.