Lot 61D
West Africa, Liberia, Dan peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. This powerful and beautifully rendered female figure belongs to a rare class of Dan sculptures known as lu me. Representing ideals of feminine beauty, virtue, and prestige, lu me figures were commissioned by prominent men to honor a favored wife and were often maintained by another respected woman within the household. Unlike more publicly displayed artworks of Dan society, these figures remained largely hidden from view, emerging only during visits by foreign dignitaries or on other significant ceremonial occasions. Carved with sculptural gravity and stylistic elegance, this nude female stands with full, muscular limbs, thick feet, and square shoulders, her stance conveying grounded strength. White kaolin pigment is boldly applied across the torso and face in linear and geometric patterns that may signal ritual purity or social identity. Size: 6.1" L x 7.2" W x 21.8" H (15.5 cm x 18.3 cm x 55.4 cm)
The mouth is set with inlaid shell teeth that glint against the dark polished wood, enhancing the figure's intensity. Her hair, braided from actual human strands, cascades in rows down the back of her head - a sign of both realism and reverence. A stand of white glass beads encircles the waist, calling attention to fertility and adornment.
Lu me figures such as this were not generalized depictions, but personalized portraits that nonetheless adhered to broader Dan ideals of female beauty: full forms, expressive facial features, and a composed bearing. These sculptures were deeply tied to the identity and memory of the woman portrayed, serving as markers of personal legacy and societal honor. Among Dan visual traditions, they remain one of the most materially elaborate and socially meaningful forms.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in 2010 via descent; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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#195951
- Condition: Areas of old fissures to wood with some restabilization and infill. Nicks, chips, and abrasions throughout, as well as fraying to hair, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice presentation with good remains of pigment and patina to wood.
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