A very rare, ancient and superb female statuette in a very beautiful old style, belonging to the Bwiti initiation society, and which - as the depth of the back and its fluted surface indicate - originally adorned a carved post (or door) placed in the house of worship, ébandza. See : Bassani and McLeod, Jacob Epstein Collector, 1989, p. 114, no. 276 for a stylistically related statuette in the Jacob Epstein collection. Tsogho, Gabon Wood, kaolin, truncated at the back, slight chips and scratches, beautiful old patina. H. 44 cm Provenance : Acquired in 1954 in the vicinity of Ndjolé by the first owner as he was travelling up the Ogooué after a short stay in Lambaréné. Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels Marc Blanpain Collection, Brussels Publications and exhibitions: Sotheby's, Paris, Arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie. Importantes collections, June 17, 2009, lot 91 Giquello, Paris, Blanpain Collection, December 6, 2024, no. 30