| Hemba / Luba stool |
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| Hemba janus stool Size: 17-1/2”H. Description: An openwork, carved hardwood figural example, having male and female figures with hands raised above their heads supporting a thick, disc seat, standing on an integral base. Vertical age crack through piece with old hammered copper strips nailed to top and base to stabilize the cracks, minor loss to right nipple. Deep black-brown surface, old patina. Provenance: Ex. private CT. collection. Examples below for reference |
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Sotheby's Arts of Africa, Oceania & The Americas SALE N07795 AUCTION DATE 17 May 02 10:15 AM. LOCATION New York LOT 142 A LUBA/KUSU DOUBLE-FIGURE CARYATID STOOL estimate 25,000—50,000 USD Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 23,900 USD MEASUREMENTS height 17 3/4in. 45.1cm. DESCRIPTION standing on a fragmentary circular base, the two adorsed female figures with elaborate cicatrices at the abdomen and pendant breasts, the raised muscular arms framing the forward-lilting heads and narrow faces with sensitively carved features, straight lips, pointed nose and almond-shaped dotted eyes and wearing a backswept coiffure with a scalloped hairline, the broad flat hands supporting the concave seat; fine blackened patina. Cf. Robbins and Nooter (1989: 471, figure 1210) for a very closely related Kusu male single-figure stool. The double-female composition here relates to Luba stools where the presence of female figures is prevalent. However, stylistically the pouting mouth, elegant nose, dotted almond-shaped eyes, articulation of the collar-bone and the broad hands with defined knuckles at the palm suggest closer affinities to the Kusu. |
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| A rare Hemba/Luba double figure caryatid stool. The fine,varied, dark patina and wear is consistent with many years of use. Original museum tag. Origin: Zaire Height: 16.75 inches Provenance: Stuart J. Warkow,SMA Fathers Missionary Museum,Titus Gallery. $18,000. Titus Gallery Examples of male Hemba figures for reference |
