An ancient statuette in a rare style, but characteristic of the great ancient Mumuyé statuary, with short legs and a crested headdress, her arms are marked with engraved striations all along, continuing a line right down to her back, carved like a suit. Her presence, and the expression on her face with the eyes engraved under her forehead, is particularly endearing and successful. Mumuye, Nigeria Wood, pigments, slight age-related erosion, beautiful age-related oxidation of the wood, beautiful old patina. H. 40.5 cm Provenance : Martien Coppens Collection, Netherlands Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels Marc Blanpain Collection, Brussels Publications and exhibitions: Coppens, Negro Sculpture, 1975