- 76
Statue, Bembe, République du Congo
Estimate
35,000 - 50,000 EUR
bidding is closed
Description
- Bembe
- Statue
- wood
- haut. 22,5 cm
- 8 7/8 in
Provenance
Collection privée
Condition
Very good condition overall. Wear consistent with age and use within the culture. Very fine reddish-brown patina.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Parmi la multitude de sous-styles qui émaillent la statuaire Bembe se distingue celui identifié en 1974 par Söderberg sous le nom de "type Baladi", rebaptisé quelques années plus tard, par Raoul Lehuard, "style de Kolo" (Art Bakongo. Les centres de style, 1989, p. 394-399). Son premier témoin référencé est la statuette de la collection Paul Guillaume, acquis avant 1914 (cf. Sotheby's, Paris, 24 juin 2015, n° 25). La plupart des statues composant cet étroit corpus adoptent la même pose : les épaules larges et dégagées accentuant l'ample mouvement des bras, et les jambes stylisées reposant l'une sur l'autre comme pour asseoir la dynamique du buste. Toutes se singularisent par la prégnance du visage, jouant sur la profondeur de la forme ovoïde et la tension des traits anguleux, aboutissant dans le dessin en angle obtus des lèvres serrées. Ici, la monumentalité de l'œuvre redouble dans la libre interprétation des proportions et la simplification des volumes à leurs lignes essentielles. Voir Falgayrettes-Leveau (Le geste Kongo, 2002, p. 96), pour une statue - masculine - très apparentée.