- 146
Bamana Female Antelope Headdress (Chi wara), Mali
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 USD
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Description
- wood
- Height: 35 1/4 inches (89.5 cm)
Provenance
John J. Klejman, New York
Jay C. Leff, Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, African Art from the Collection of Jay C. Leff, April 22, 1967, lot 9
Private Collection, New York, acquired at the above auction
Jay C. Leff, Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, African Art from the Collection of Jay C. Leff, April 22, 1967, lot 9
Private Collection, New York, acquired at the above auction
Exhibited
Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Exotic Art from Ancient & Primitive Civilizations: Collection of Jay C. Leff, October 15, 1959 - January 3, 1960
Literature
Walter A. Fairservis, Exotic Art from Ancient & Primitive Civilizations: Collection of Jay C. Leff, Pittsburgh, 1959, no. 206
Condition
Good condition for an object of this type and age. All four horns with repaired breaks, and three of the four ears with repaired breaks. Minor marks, nicks, scratches, abrasions, small chips, cracks, and losses consistent with age and use. Eyes of the baby antelope are reglued. Permanently embedded in modern wood plinth.
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.
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.
Catalogue Note
The present sculpture, formerly in the collection of the collector Jay C. Leff, is of the ''vertical" Chi wara style, which typically appeared in male and female pairs. The female form, inspired by the Oryx Antelope (Oryx beisa), often features a fawn riding upon the mother's back, as in the present example.
LaGamma (2002: 82) notes: "In Bamana culture, the male and female antelope personages [...] served as multifaceted metaphors for the elemental forces upon which all humanity depends. The infant on the female's back, for example, has been interpreted as the embodiment of humanity and as a visual treatise on the relationship between the powerful Sun (the male) and the gentle, nurturing Earth (the female)."