Cassandra D'Cruz
Cataloguer
Lot 47
Luba Shankadi Seated Couple, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Withdrawn
Amended
6 December 2016, 15:00 PST
Los AngelesUS$60,000 - US$80,000
Ask about this lot
Fredric Backlar
Director
Luba Shankadi Seated Couple, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wood, fiber remnants
height 21 1/2in (55cm)
Provenance
Private Collection, France
Thence by descent
Published
Neyt, François, Arts Traditionnels et Histoire au Zaire, 1981, p. 249, fig. XIII.13
Neyt (ibid., p. 246) notes: "Remarkable in its size, the couple in figure XIII.13 has been sculpted in a hard wood that is of a worn, brown color. The man is holding the sceptor of authority and the woman has her hand positioned on her shoulder. Both are kneeling with their arms delicately crossed behind their backs. The man's coiffure is reminiscent of the Shankadi types while the woman's coiffure (repeated on the sceptor) and their scarifications are found among the Zela, more precisely in the Mulimba chieftainry of the Bena Ngoni clans (near Pweto). Is this piece reminiscent of some matrimonial alliance, bringing to mind the dependancy (sic) of the Zela on the Luba kingdom?"
Werner Gillon (A Short History of African Art), 1984, p. 292) notes, "The Luba greatly revered and admired their smiths and sculptors. Their outstanding artistic achievements, along with those of related nations, date back to early times and continued into the twentieth century. Their naturalistic, well-rounded, beautifully carved figures with shining patina, and their fine realization of the female form--of great importance in this mostly matrilineal society -- have also a special appeal to western aesthetics. They are traditional carvings for ancestor and spirit cults, for initiation, medical and divination purposes: seated females with bowls (mboko), chiefs' staffs, bow and arrow stands and neckrests, of which those attributed to the Shankadi are the most delicate and touching works of Luba art."
The work presented here exhibits classic Shankadi characteristics--rounded heads, oval slit eyes, pursed lips, headdresses composed of a series of crests, raised scarification, and cylindrical bodies--though the seated, embracing couple of this size presented here is unique within the corpus of Shankadi sculpture.
height 21 1/2in (55cm)
Provenance
Private Collection, France
Thence by descent
Published
Neyt, François, Arts Traditionnels et Histoire au Zaire, 1981, p. 249, fig. XIII.13
Neyt (ibid., p. 246) notes: "Remarkable in its size, the couple in figure XIII.13 has been sculpted in a hard wood that is of a worn, brown color. The man is holding the sceptor of authority and the woman has her hand positioned on her shoulder. Both are kneeling with their arms delicately crossed behind their backs. The man's coiffure is reminiscent of the Shankadi types while the woman's coiffure (repeated on the sceptor) and their scarifications are found among the Zela, more precisely in the Mulimba chieftainry of the Bena Ngoni clans (near Pweto). Is this piece reminiscent of some matrimonial alliance, bringing to mind the dependancy (sic) of the Zela on the Luba kingdom?"
Werner Gillon (A Short History of African Art), 1984, p. 292) notes, "The Luba greatly revered and admired their smiths and sculptors. Their outstanding artistic achievements, along with those of related nations, date back to early times and continued into the twentieth century. Their naturalistic, well-rounded, beautifully carved figures with shining patina, and their fine realization of the female form--of great importance in this mostly matrilineal society -- have also a special appeal to western aesthetics. They are traditional carvings for ancestor and spirit cults, for initiation, medical and divination purposes: seated females with bowls (mboko), chiefs' staffs, bow and arrow stands and neckrests, of which those attributed to the Shankadi are the most delicate and touching works of Luba art."
The work presented here exhibits classic Shankadi characteristics--rounded heads, oval slit eyes, pursed lips, headdresses composed of a series of crests, raised scarification, and cylindrical bodies--though the seated, embracing couple of this size presented here is unique within the corpus of Shankadi sculpture.
Saleroom notices
Please note, this item has been withdrawn.