A Mumuye sculpture, Nigeria, standing on its short zigzag legs, a long thin abdomen that thickens at the top, protruding navel, two flattened and elongated arms joining at the waist by the two hands, a conical neck carrying a head composed of simple features, the eyes are traced with white pigment, two long square ears fall and create a helmet to the head, there are white inlayed scarifications on the sculpture; some aged cracks, signs of ritual use.

This model is similar in style from the famous Mumuye sculpture at the Fondation Beyeler.

“The head of the Beyeler's figure has an impressive helmet-shaped coiffure with a double sagittal crest that is decorated with a pattern of three parallel incised lines. On the sides, this hairdo transitions smoothly into the flaps that represent the ears. The abstracted face consists of two round eyes that are marked on the inside of the projecting coiffure. Between the eyes is a vertical volume that represents the nose and mouth, the latter marked with a horizontal oval incision…”

Mumuye, sculpture from Nigeria, the human figure reinvented, p.50.

sold

Height: 123 cm
Weight: 6,3 kg