Estimate
€ 800 - 1.200
Aggiudicato
Current bid Starting bid
€ 800
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At auction on Thursday 5 March 2026 at 15:00
Information
48 × 20 × 26.5 cm
dark patinated wood, with period breaks and signs of wear.
It depicts a kneeling woman holding a cup with a lid in the shape of a hen, with two children on either side and one on her back.The sculpture most likely belonged to a court figure and was used to offer gifts to important guests.
dark patinated wood, with period breaks and signs of wear.
It depicts a kneeling woman holding a cup with a lid in the shape of a hen, with two children on either side and one on her back.The sculpture most likely belonged to a court figure and was used to offer gifts to important guests.
The lot is sold together with a certificate of expertise from Totem Gallery, Venice, Italy
Provenance
Totem Gallery, Venice, Italy
Exhibition
Arte Africana. "Fertilità e Maternità", 9 July – 3 October 2007 Totem Gallery, Venice, Italy
Specialist Notes
The Yoruba people are the largest ethnic group in Africa and are located in southwestern Nigeria and neighboring Benin. Descendants of the Ife civilization and the Benin Empire, they have a rich pantheon of deities and ceremonies.
The woman holding a hen-shaped cup, pictured here, is a high-quality example of this type of sculpture. Her hairstyle is very elaborate and shows traces of indigo pigment. She carries a child on her back in the traditional manner, and two other children are at her sides. She has tribal scarifications on her face and body. The hen, also covered with decorative motifs, is a container for kola nuts. This type of sculpture belonged to high-ranking members of the court and was used to offer nuts to very important visitors.
The woman holding a hen-shaped cup, pictured here, is a high-quality example of this type of sculpture. Her hairstyle is very elaborate and shows traces of indigo pigment. She carries a child on her back in the traditional manner, and two other children are at her sides. She has tribal scarifications on her face and body. The hen, also covered with decorative motifs, is a container for kola nuts. This type of sculpture belonged to high-ranking members of the court and was used to offer nuts to very important visitors.
Condition report
To request a Condition Report, please contact modernoecontemporaneo@finarte.it
The department will provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that what Finarte declares with respect to the state of conservation of the objects corresponds only to a qualified opinion and that 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. We always suggest prospective buyers to inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition during the exhibition days as indicated in the catalog.
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