A very old statuette, here in a very fine early classical style, with a particularly successful faceted treatment of the head and face, clearly indicating two pairs of eyes, engraved eyes (as well as the mouth) under its superciliary arches on either side of a signified nose, and two eyes in two circles enhanced with white kaolin, as indicating the eyes of the statue's spirit. Mumuyé statues are kept in dedicated huts or enclosures (iagalagana or java) and contribute to the prestige of their guardian and owner, often a healer, diviner or blacksmith. They had therapeutic or prophylactic virtues, and could take part in divination or bring down rain or thunder. Mumuye, Nigeria, late 19th - early 20th century Hardwood, left arm visibly missing (old breakage), superb old patina. Height: 60cm Provenance: Gérard Whalboyer, Paris Gérard Whalboyer, Paris Olivier Larroque, Paris Stéphane Kurc Collection, Paris