CONGOLESE WOODEN CHAIR WITH FEMALE FIGURE

Ca. 20th century AD. > A carved wooden chair with a sculptural female figure, the figure seated atop the backrest and rendered with elongated limbs and simplified anatomical forms. The head is adorned with a bundle of reddish fibre forming stylized hair, which falls around the head and shoulders, creating a contrast with the dark patinated wood. The rectangular back panel beneath the figure is decorated with incised geometric motifs, including intersecting diagonal lines and curving patterns. The front support panel bears a carved stylized mask, with almond-shaped eyes and a triangular element above the head. A horizontal stretcher below the seat is decorated with a band of zigzag ornament, reinforcing the overall geometric vocabulary of the piece. The chair�s broad plank construction and angular supports give it a solid architectural presence, while the carved figure and decorative elements introduce symbolic and aesthetic qualities. Furniture incorporating sculptural imagery is found in several regions of Central and West Africa, where such objects may serve both functional and ceremonial roles, reflecting status and artistic expression within local carving traditions. > > Size: 750mm x 430mm; Weight: 3kg > Provenance: Prince Collection, 1990s-2014; ex BIG International (Mr Bernard de Grunne), TEFAF 2012. > This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter. >

Estimate:£1,000

View all items fromApollo Art AuctionsorEthnographical