- 57
Coupe anthropomorphe, Mbuun, République Démocratique du Congo
Estimate
18,000 - 25,000 EUR
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Description
- Mbuun
- Coupe anthropomorphe
- wood
- haut. 17 cm
- 7 in
Provenance
Collection Alexis van Opstal (1847-1936), Belgique, ca. 1925
Collection privée, Belgique
Artcurial, Paris, 10 juin 2008, n° 93
Collection Frum, acquis lors de cette vente
Collection privée, Belgique
Artcurial, Paris, 10 juin 2008, n° 93
Collection Frum, acquis lors de cette vente
Literature
Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa / Art Tribal d'Afrique Noire, 1998 et 2010, p. 173, n° 13
Condition
Good condition overall. Wear consistent with age and use within the culture. Both feet broken and glued. Metal tag with number 16 engraved attached to the proper left foot.
"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
Les coupes anthropomorphes constituent l'expression essentielle de la statuaire des Mbuun. Leur corpus, éminemment restreint, se compose de cinq œuvres : la coupe de l'ancienne collection de l'Albright-Knox Gallery (Sotheby's, New York, 17 mai 2007, n° 128), celles du Musée Royal de l'Afrique centrale de Tervuren (inv. n° E.80.2.426) et de l'Etnografish Museum d'Anvers (inv. 0281), la coupe de la collection Mestach (Jean Willy Mestach, L'intelligence des formes, n° 25), et enfin celle de l'ancienne collection d'Alexis van Opstal, présentée ici. Si toutes présentent une conception analogue, la coupe von Opstal est l'unique dont le visage soit figuré. A la conception surréaliste de la statue/réceptacle s'ajoute ici la finesse remarquable de la sculpture et des traits délicatement modelés. Selon Els De Palmenaer (Trésors d'Afrique, Musée de Tervuren, 1995, p. 310), sa gestuelle serait interprétée comme « un signe de provocation; une posture de défi liée au mythe fondateur du clan des Injey [et] ces coupes étaient probablement utilisées dans des rituels de transmission du pouvoir ».