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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

80 - Chihongo mask (Cihongo) Chokwe/Tshokwe, Angola Materials: Wo…
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Estimate €500 - €800
Sale commission
Description
Chihongo mask (Cihongo) Chokwe/Tshokwe, Angola Materials: Wood, metal. Base included (gallery condition). Provenance: Former collection of Edmond Verfaillie (1892-1962), a personality linked to the major Belgian companies companies operating in the Belgian Congo under Belgian state administration, notably Forminière and Union Minière. Forminière and Union Minière. Preserved by family descent. This ancient provenance is part of a particularly coherent and well-documented collection. Dimensions: H. 25 cm (35 cm with stand) An emblematic figure in the Chokwe mask repertoire, the Chihongo mask traditionally embodies success, abundance and social prestige. This masculine representation is distinguished here by its remarkable expressive power: the face, with its ample volumes, is dominated dominated by heavy, half-closed eyelids, while the half-open mouth reveals a meticulously carved set of teeth. a meticulously sculpted set of teeth, a characteristic detail of the most elaborate examples. The facial scarification marks, treated with great finesse, interact with the metal rings The finely-worked scarification marks on the face combine with the metal rings in the ears to add to the prestige of the representation. The sculpture is also impressive for the balance of its proportions and the quality of its modelling. The The broad arches of the eyebrows, the powerful nose and the general structure of the face give the a particularly strong presence. The beautiful old reddish-brown patina, testifies to a long history of conservation and highlights every detail of the sculptor's work. detail of the sculptor's work. One element of great interest is the presence of its old handwritten label, preserved on the work. preserved on the work. According to information passed on within the Verfaillie family, this mask mask was a gift to Edmond Verfaillie on the occasion of the celebrations organised in 1956 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of La Forminière, one of the main mining mining companies in the Belgian Congo. This family tradition is all the more credible in that the old label remains attached to the object, providing invaluable evidence of its history and the way it was the history of its collection. Stylistically, this mask can be compared with several reference Chihongo preserved in public collections and published in specialist literature, notably in Manuel Jordán's book on Chokwe art and initiations. Here we find the same the same plastic research around the half-closed eyes, the open mouth and the affirmation of male male status through deliberately accentuated features. Without claiming any particular attribution attribution, these similarities underline the quality of the work and its belonging to a sculptural tradition sculptural tradition among the most highly regarded in Chokwe art. Given its ancient provenance, the preservation of its historical label and the quality of its workmanship quality of workmanship, this mask is a particularly attractive example of classical Chokwe aesthetics Chokwe aesthetic and a key piece in a group devoted to the arts of Central Africa. of Central Africa.
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About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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