R. d. Congo. Wood, 33 cm high. This important statue represents a woman of high status, perhaps a priestess or chief, based on the round "imwu" hairstyle with two "buns". The fine detailed scarification on the torso are characteristic of both the Teke and the Bembe. The delicate hands resting on the knees, the solemn expression, the broad shoulders give this figure great authority. The hollow space on the side of the abdomen would have been filled with magical ingredients "Bonga", empowering and charging the figure. (VJ)

Publication:
R. Lehuard, "Les expositions", in: Arts d'Afrique Noire, no. 63, 1987:48 (right); Expo cat.: "Closeup. Lessons in the art of seeing African sculpture from an American collection and the Horstmann collection", by S. Vogel and J. Thompson, New York: The Center for African Art, 1990:102,#20; "Les arts Bateke, Congo-Gabon-Zaire", Raoul Lehouard Arnouville, Arts d'Afrique Noire, 1996:247,#1.1.2; "The Power of Form. African Art from the Horstmann Collection", Milan: Skira, 2002:149,#58; "Maestri di arte africana. Forme e stili. Ottantaquattro sculture dalla collezione Horstmann/Masters of African Art. Forms and Styles. Eighty-four Sculptures from the Horstmann Collection", edited by Ezio Bassani, Mendrisio: Museo d'arte, 2007:53,#12; "Bateke, les fetiches", Alain Lecomte & Raoul Lehuard Paris 2014:215

Exhibited:
Paris, France: Galerie Alain de Monbrison, July 1987; "Closeup. Lessons in the art of seeing African sculpture from an American collection and the Horstmann collection", The Center for African Art, 12 September 1990-11 March 1991; "Maestri di arte africana. Forme e stili. Ottantaquattro sculture dalla collezione Horstmann", Museo d'Arte Mendrisio, 29 April-22 July 2007Pg 102, no. 20.

Provenance:
Alain de Monbrison, Paris;
Udo & Wally Horstmann Collection, Switzerland.