À propos du lot
n° 47
Titre : Detailed Description
Dimensions : height 50 1/2 in. 128.5cmProvenance : PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF DEBORAH STOKES HAMMER, CHICAGOLiterature : According to Fagg (in Bassani, ed. 1991: 132), Agbonbiofe (d. 1945) was one of the best-known of the Efon carvers. He was a member of the great Adeshina family of carvers and beaded-crownmakers. In 1916, after a fire destroyed the palace of the Alaye, Agbonbiofe carved a complete series of twenty or more magnificent houseposts for the principal courts of the new palace. See Fagg, et al (1982: 23, figure 22) for a detail of one of these posts.The mastery of both carving and beadwork from the Adeshina workshop, of which Agbonbiofe was a member, is evident in the care taken in the elaborate rendering of the conical beaded crown on this warrior chief. This attention to detail is seen again in other epa masks attributed to the carver. The most well-known example is the epa mask formerly in the collection of James Hooper (ibid.: 147). Other small details tie this, and other works attributed to the carver (Fagg 1991: plate 69), together--the fine layering of the pigmented surface, the raised semicircular ears punctuated with a central point, the notched rendering of the beaded necklaces at the chest, an interesting secondary ring just beneath the jaw and the arms encircled by arm bands with sagittate bundles inserted. These characteristics, in addition to the other more obvious similarities of the diamond-shaped pointed mouths and hooded, heavily outlined eyes, for instance, indicate a strength and continuity of execution of a master carver like Agbonbiofe.Sotheby's, Salle de vente
, New York, US
🔓Accès libre sans carte bancaire.
Titre de la vente : African & Oceanic Art
Date de la vente : 14/11/2003
🔓Accès libre sans carte bancaire.
Référence de l'enchère
: Live Sale
