A Makonde sculpture, depicting a-male figure leaning on his long dagger, who is fixed in the head of a lion, he is also holding a spear with its left hand, he is dressed with a simple garment, his earlobes are elongated, his hair is delicately braided. This scene reveals the aftermath of a hunt, perhaps an initiation ritual; glossy by use, in great condition.

“Relatively little is known in this country about the Makonde, who are Bantu Africans, a distinct people, some of whom survived in northeastern Mozambique virtually untouched by outside powers until well into the twentieth century. Although African woodcarvers, including some Makonde, have succumbed to mass production for world export, the modern Makonde sculptors who have produced the pieces in the exhibition since World War II maintain independence, originality and fertile imagination infused with interpretation of tribal lore.

Their figures and abstracts, ranging in height from six inches to three feet, reveal the young artists’ distinction, the freedom with which they invent new forms that translate vital aspects of their heritage into an original contemporary idiom. Few if any of the pieces are signed, the sculptors remaining unidentified. While it is tempting and would be easy to find in their work resemblences to contemporary western art, particualrly in surrealist directions, it is a serious mistake to undertake interpretation in such alien terms. Just as the point of view and language of western religious thought, when applied to native African religions, can distort and falsify their meaning, so the theology of modern art can blind the eye effectively to the quality and character of Makonde sculpture, which deserves to be met on its own terms. “
Source: The renaissance society

However, different criteria - quite different - hold good when we wish to speak of the Art of the Makonde tribe. Art! Who in fact can define this term? There is still no generally acceptance criteria, but - and here I am on firm ground - there are indeed criteria for MASTERPIECES OF THE MAKONDE.

Without any doubt this sculpture is a masterpiece from the Dr. Rieck Collection, collected in the 1990th. Riek had an intensive contact to Dr. Max Mohl, "Masterpieces of the Makonde" 1995.

sold

Height: 36 cm
Weight: 940 g