Democratic Republic of Congo.

Very beautiful attitude, head slightly bent forward, and prolonged by the hairdo in chignon, very well balanced face wearing scarification, beard. Slightly curved, the forehead is rounded, the nose triangular and the mouth perimeter rectangular, the eyes, each reinforced with three nails upholstered, provide visual acuity of the gaze. The bust presents pointed breasts, arms along the body, marked shoulders, abdominal cavity hollowed out of his Bilongo. Powerful legs slightly bent, finish an exceptional set.

Dark brown patina on the upper and lower part, the center having probably been protected by a fabric protecting the Bilongo.

Bibliography :

• for a very close statuette, LES ARTS BATEKE by Raoul Lehuard, Collection Arts d'Afrique noire, 1996 edition. See page 331 model 68.2.1 - Documentation Sotheby's New York.
• in BATÉKÉ, peintre et sculpteur d'Afrique centrale Paris musée des arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie, page 181 N° 147 (Paris Musée de l'Homme).

Provenance :

• Former collection Gérard Wahl, known as Boyer, known as Bébé Rose.