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an image of a statue of a man with a hat on his heada wooden statue of a man with a hat on his headan image of a wooden sculpture of a woman with a hat on her headan image of a statue of a woman with a hat on her heada wooden sculpture of a man with a hat on his head
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Estimate €800 - €1,200
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Description
MAMBILA Mambila Tadep statuette. 20th century. Height: 62 cm. Hard, heavy wood. Dark patina. Provenance: Pierre Redouin Collection. Description: The posture is dynamic, with the legs bent as if ready to spring; the face, in the shape of a stylised heart, is almost cubist in style. This massive-looking fetish is not, strictly speaking, a representation of an ancestor, but rather an instrument associated with the Suaga ritual. The Suaga is a set of rituals aimed at warding off misfortune, ensuring the fertility of the land and protecting the community against witchcraft. This statuette represents the vessel serving as a vessel for the spirits so that they may intervene on behalf of the living. A latticework of raffia (the Mambila made extensive use of raffia pith – the soft core of the palm frond – in the creation of their statuary) surrounds the face. The almost perfect symmetry between the head and the rest of the body, relative to a horizontal plane at chest height, creates a balance of forms that undoubtedly reflects the desired physical equilibrium. Wooden pegs are inserted into the back of the head and the shoulder blades. The abdominal area features spherical protrusions. Raffia bracelets adorn the forearms and lower legs.
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About the sale The Breath of the Spirits: The Collection of Pierre Redouin and Others
Auction location
Auction time 09/24/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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