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Songye Hermaphrodite Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo image 1
Songye Hermaphrodite Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo image 2
Songye Hermaphrodite Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo image 3
Songye Hermaphrodite Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo image 4
Lot 87

Songye Hermaphrodite Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

21 November – 5 December 2024, 12:00 PST
Online, Los Angeles

US$15,000 - US$20,000

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Songye Hermaphrodite Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

nkisi
Wood, brass tacks, alloy, kaolin, palm oil, organic materials
Height 15 3/4in (40cm)

Provenance
Baroness Madeleine Christine Forani (1916-1976) Collection, Belgium, collected in situ in 1952
Belgian Private Collection, Belgium, 1976
Thence by descent
California Private Collection, acquired from the above in March 2017
Cole Harrell, Harrell Fine Art, New York
Adrian Schlag, Spain
New York Private Collection

This dynamic figure stands firmly on a rounded base with head slightly down-turned to left with large, circular and deeply inset eyes and open mouth revealing teeth, all resulting in an enigmatic presence. The head, inset with brass tacks along the forehead, rests on a sturdy, columnar neck juxtaposing with the squared shoulders, angular arms and breasts. An empty charge cavity rests centrally at the stomach, supported by finely curved, broad and powerful legs resting on proportionally large flattened feet, the toes delineated and curving to the contour of the rounded base. Rich, oily, varied dark and light brown patina.

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