Sceptre
CultureLuba
Dateend of 19th century
MediumWood, copper, and thread
DimensionsOverall: 18 inches (45.72 cm)
Credit LineGift of Shirley and Barnett C. Helzberg Jr.
Object number2013.42.25
On View
On viewGallery Location
- L9
Collections
DescriptionA wooden female figurine stands atop a staff twice her length (the whole in one piece), the upper part of which is decorated with circular grooves and striped lozenges. The woman has a high, curved forehead topped by a double ring; almond-shaped eyes, oval ears, and a coffee bean-shaped mouth. The coiffure includes a striped diadem at the back of the head, and a cross-bun. Arms folded, with the hands resting above the breasts. Pattern of cheloid scarifications on the torso and around the waist; horizontal folds under the navel. Legs apart, feet resting on the round base. Fingers and toes well-delineated. The lower part of the staff is wrapped in dark thread, and ends with a copper ring. Fine-grained reddish brown wood, glossy darker patina.ProvenanceJacques de Prince, Brussels, Belgium [1];
Purchased from de Prince by dealer Marc Leo Félix, Brussels, Belgium, stock no. FX990369, by July 20, 1999;
Purchased from Félix by Shirley and Barnett C. Helzberg, Jr., Mission Hills, KS, 1999-2013;
Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2013.
NOTES:
[1] According to dealer Marc Leo Félix, in email correspondence with MacKenzie Mallon, Specialist, Provenance, February 13, 2023, NAMA curatorial files.
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