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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

89 - Sceptre top - Chokwe Lovale - Angola Provenance: Former coll…
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Estimate €150 - €200
Sale commission
Description
Sceptre top - Chokwe Lovale - Angola Provenance: Former collection of Edmond Verfaillie (1892-1962), a prominent figure associated with the major Belgian companies operating in the Belgian Congo under Belgian state administration, notably Forminière and Union Minière. Kept by family descendants. This early provenance is part of a particularly coherent and well-documented collection. Dimensions: H. 21 cm This sculpted adze handle depicts a stylised female figure with a long, slender neck, a triangular face with half-closed eyes and a geometric hairstyle decorated with a finely incised diamond pattern. The arms, swept forward, frame the body, which has a sober, balanced shape. Through the purity of its lines and the economy of its plastic means, this work is part of the sculptural tradition of the Lovale/Luvale populations of the border region between Angola and Zambia, where tool handles were often given an anthropomorphic treatment to enhance their owner's status. Beyond its utilitarian function, the object bears witness to a strong aesthetic quest: elongated proportions, geometric construction of volumes and a deep patina give the figure a singular presence.
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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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