An Important Kongo Yombe Seated Figure...

Description

An Important Kongo Yombe Seated Figure
Democratic Republic of Congo, c. 1900

Of large scale at 13 inches high, this Kongo-Yombe figure is so striking that it has been included in two important publications and the exhibitions Power and Majesty: Art of the Kongo Masters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, 2016, and The Inner eye: Vision and Transcendence in African Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2017. Carved in great detail from a dense hardwood with a warm tan color, the figure sits cross-legged with right arm on knee, the hand held up to the chin. The left hand supports and appears to pull in the right leg. He wears a circular cap finely grooved with crisscross bands and cross hatching, upper arm bands, and a bracelet with two amulets, and an anklet. The main feature is the extraordinary effect of the facial expression, at once intense and gentle, with an omnipresent gaze enhanced by the painted glass eyes. The sensuous lips are parted and have a hole between that was designed to hold substances believed to magically charge or empower the spirit embodied in the figure. Long ago, the figure was most likely cleaned of its patina and the power pack or mirrored bundle once attached to the abdomen is now missing. In very good condition, appropriate for its age, origin, and mediums; a crack on the proper left side of the head, torso, and base; smaller crack on back and lower right side; a small chip from the base at back.

Provenance:
A Private Collection, New York, NY, acquired in 2003
Sotheby's New York, May 15, 2003, lot 89
A Private Collection, Belgium
Quay-Lombrail, Paris, June 26, 1996, lot 8
Annie and Jean-Pierre Jernander Collection, Brussels

Note:
According to Baudouin de Grunne (African art expert, Belgian, 1917-2011), this was collected by a Belgian Colonial Officer prior to 1950.

Published:
Joseph Cornet and A. Turconi, Zaire: Peuples, Art Culture, Fonds Mercator, Brussels/Anvers, 1989 & 1994, p. 328.
Alicia LaGamma, Kongo: Power and Majesty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2015, pages 54 and 55, figure 22 (front and back illustrated).

Exhibited:
The Inner Eye: Vision and Transcendence in African Arts, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, February - July 2017.
Kongo: Power and Majesty, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, September 2015 - January 2016.

Height: 13 inches

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