Lot 57C
Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bena Lulua, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. This striking Bena Lulua female figure is an extraordinary and rare example of conceptual abstraction in Central African art. Its powerful stylization, verging on pure geometry, reflects the carver's extreme embrace of angularity, line, and vertical structure. While vertical stacking of body parts is a characteristic hallmark of Bena Lulua sculpture, this figure pushes the tradition to its formal limits - rendering every surface, every contour, with a bold hard-edged vocabulary that verges on Cubism. The figure is carved with purposeful inversion: the buttocks, in a radical and possibly symbolic gesture, are shaped in the form of breasts, complete with protruding nipples. The face is a taut angular plane, and the limbs are rendered as abstracted, faceted volumes. Size: 1.9" L x 1.9" W x 8.7" H (4.8 cm x 4.8 cm x 22.1 cm); 9.7" H (24.6 cm) on included custom stand.
There is a total absence of curvilinear modeling, from the squared feet and straight legs to the blocky torso and boxy head - a visual language so extreme it may point to a unique substyle within the larger Bena Lulua tradition that merits further scholarly investigation.
Most remarkable is the towering architectural headdress, which rises above the figure's head like the peaked roof of a traditional Congolese house. Its textured grid pattern, sharply carved, reinforces the sculptor's embrace of the rectilinear and the symbolic. Whether conceived as a portrait, votive, or ancestor representation, the figure resonates with ancestral force and enigmatic beauty. Though modest in scale, this sculpture demonstrates a mastery of minimalism and metaphor. It offers not only a fresh angle on Bena Lulua aesthetics, but also a compelling glimpse into the range and radical potential of African figural carving in the precolonial era.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired via descent in 2010; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in October 2006; ex-Taylor Dale Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-Alex Arthur, Brussels, Belgium; ex-Belgium collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#196121
- Condition: Some light weathering to surface, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with good remaining detail.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Bidder Can Make Shipping Arrangements, Local Pick-Up, In-House Shipping
Artemis Fine Arts
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 + | $500 |