A seated clay figure. Mali, Niger Delta. 15th to 17th century.
Provenance: Inventory and Collection from the Estate of Merton D. Simpson.
Catalog Notes: This figure was probably, according to Bacquart's research on page 56 of The Tribal Arts of Africa, one of 10 both complete and fragmentary Niger Delta figures found in a cache in Mali in the 1980’s. The author went to state the theory that these figures were probably made for a shrine or meeting place. It is believed that this posture represents a reflective stance consistent with the advent of Islamic influence in this region. It is important to note from the literature comparables cited below that a number of these objects from this cache have been published without problems from Mali. It is my understanding that all figures from this cache are now in museums or in private collections. To my knowledge none of these figures are in U.S. museum collections. It is interesting that after all the Nok and Djenne that has been institutionally collected in the past six years in the United States, this object clearly has one of the finest pedigrees having been known in a private collection since 1986.

Simpson # 5169 acquired for $15,000 Early 86 : Considering the amount of time that has elapsed since this object's first testing, it seemed prudent to retest the figure with samples taken by Lara Kaplan Objects Conservation, LLC for Oxford Authentication Ltd.
Test # 1: Daybreak test sample 9A17.2 obtained 4/23/87 taken back edge of bottom tested between 350 and 660 years ago signed Victor Botolodt 5/11/87.
Test #2 : Sample A - Underside of right foot; Sample B - Lower back; Sample C - Into Head; Sample D - Into Head; Results: Samples C and D tested between 400 and 600 years, Sample B was contaminated, Sample A tested less than 100 years old and was believed to have been taken in fill. XRF testing is planned prior to the auction.
Burial Figure Literature Comparables: 1. Rediscovered Masterpieces, Gerald Berjonneau & Jean-Louis Sonnery, 1987: Belguim Lannoo, plate 9 2. Arts d’ Afrique Noire, Summer 1988 Monbrison’s full page ad 3. The Tribal Arts of Africa, Bacquart, 1998, p. 56 from Monbrison’s collection. 4. African Art from the Barbier Mueller Collection, Schmalenbach, 1988, p. 55 5. Arts d’ Afrique Noire , Monbrison’ s seated figure with a conical hat