Lot 4
  • 4

COUPE, KUBA / LÉLÉ, RÉPUBLIQUE DÉMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO |

Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 EUR
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Description

  • haut. 19 cm ; 7 1/2 in

Provenance

Collection privée, Bruxelles, acquis ca. 1907
Pierre Loos, Bruxelles
Collection Marceau Rivière, Paris, acquis ca. 1990

Exhibited

Paris, Ecole Supérieure Internationale d'Art et de Gestion, Art Africain, 23 avril - 3 mai 1991
Turin, Galleria d'Arte Modern,  Africa. Capolavori da un continente, 2 octobre 2003 - 15 février 2004
Milan, Museo delle Culture, Africa. La Terra degli Spiriti, 27 mars - 30 août 2015

Literature

Arts d'Afrique Noire, Printemps 1991, n° 77, p. 70 
Rivière et Lehuard, Art Africain, 1991, n° 58
Bassani, Africa. Capolavori da un continente, 2003, p. 244 et 362, n° 3.103
Bassani, L'Art Africain, 2012, p. 278, n° 248
Bassani, Homberger, Pezzoli et Zevi, Africa. La Terra degli Spiriti, 2015, p. 258-259

Condition

Excellent condition overall. Wear consistent with age and use within the culture. Exceptional deep patina with several shades of brown.
"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

Cette rare coupe de la Collection Marceau Rivière illustre la quintessence d'un art royal Kuba dont les réceptacles comptèrent parmi les plus illustres manifestations. Réservées à l'usage des membres de la famille royale et des notables, ces coupes à vin de palme constituaient pour les artistes royaux Kuba et ceux des peuples apparentés des exercices de virtuosité établissant leur prestige et celui de leurs commanditaires. Si dans ce corpus prestigieux les coupes anthropomorphes sont les plus rares, celles dont le piétement est figuré par un pied peuvent être considérées comme des créations uniques. S’ajoutent ici le raffinement des modelés, la beauté du décor complexe à motifs géométriques et la profondeur de la patine qui rappellent sa grande ancienneté et le soin qui lui était porté.

This rare cup from the Marceau Rivière collection illustrates the quintessence of royal Kuba Art, where the most illustrious works take the form of receptacles. Reserved for the use of members of the royal family and notables, these palm wine cups were, for the royal Kuba artists and those of the related peoples, demonstrations in virtuosity which established their prestige and that of their clients.

Though anthropomorphic cups are the rarest within this prestigious corpus, those with a base representing a foot can be considered unique creations. This rarity is reinforced by the refinement of the form, the beauty of the complex geometric decoration and the depth of the patina, which remind us of its great age and the care bestowed upon it.