- 25
Statue, Bembe, République du Congo
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 EUR
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Description
- Statue, Bembe
- wood and ceramic
- haut. 18,5 cm
- 7 1/4 in
Provenance
Collection Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918), Paris, avant 1914
Laurin-Guilloux-Buffetaud-Tailler, Paris, 16 Mars 1987, n° 47
Collection privée
Sotheby’s, New York, mai 1988, n° 83
Merton D. Simpson, New York
Collection Saul et Marsha Stanoff (1918-2006 & 1923-2013), Tarzana, Californie
Sotheby’s, New York, The Saul & Marsha Stanoff collection, 17 Mai 2007, n° 29
Maureen Zarember, New York
Collection Daniel et Carmen Klein
Laurin-Guilloux-Buffetaud-Tailler, Paris, 16 Mars 1987, n° 47
Collection privée
Sotheby’s, New York, mai 1988, n° 83
Merton D. Simpson, New York
Collection Saul et Marsha Stanoff (1918-2006 & 1923-2013), Tarzana, Californie
Sotheby’s, New York, The Saul & Marsha Stanoff collection, 17 Mai 2007, n° 29
Maureen Zarember, New York
Collection Daniel et Carmen Klein
Literature
Lehuard, Arts Bakongo. Les centres de style, vol. II, 1989, p. 396, n° G 21-2-3
Lehuard et Lecomte, Statuaire Babembé, 2010, p. 90, n° 41
Lehuard et Lecomte, Statuaire Babembé, 2010, p. 90, n° 41
Condition
Very good condition overall. Wear consistent with age and use within the culture. One old crack to the proper left side of the torso. Two old drill holes to both shoulders. Beautiful reddish patina. Inventory number handwritten in red under the figure "1280" with an old label partly erased.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Le style Bembe, dans son apparente homogénéité, est émaillé d’une multitude de sous-styles dont émergent des œuvres littéralement remarquables, comme cette statue des anciennes collections Guillaume Apollinaire puis Saul et Marsha Stanoff.
Apogée du style désigné comme « style de Kolo » par Raoul Lehuard (Art Bakongo. Les centres de style, 1989, p. 394-399) et « type Baladi » par Söderberg (« les figures d’ancêtres chez les Babembe » in Arts d’Afrique Noire, n° 14, été 1975, p. 26-30), elle se distingue par la remarquable dignité du geste – les épaules larges et dégagées accentuant l’ample mouvement des bras, les jambes stylisées reposant l’une sur l’autre comme pour asseoir la dynamique du buste –, et par la prégnance du visage jouant sur la tension des lignes anguleuses et la rondeur des volumes. Enfin la beauté des signes corporels, confinant à l’abstraction, ajoute à la monumentalité du geste sculptural.