A rare and exceptional Bamana shrine figure, Bamana; Mali
Of highly unusual form, the figure with elongated head carved in two sections horizontally divided by the mouth, the face with encrustation, rounded forehead, long nasal ridge and elongated chin, the body with marks carved akimbo, the figure almost completely covered in a cloak of native cloth and string, the legs showing from the bottom and well patinated, the top with a black topknot of string. Fine patina of use and age. Extremely rare. H. 17 1/4"
On his invoice Henri Kamer noted that there was only one other example of this type of extremely rare Bamana figure that he indeed owned and subsequently published in his catalog "Magic African Art" 1971, Figure 6. This lot is accompanied by a written statement of authentication by Dr. Arthur P. Bourgeois.
Comments: Property from the estate of Rudolph de Harak
Provenance: Henri Kamer, 1966 (With original receipt)
Rudolph de Harak, Maine