West Africa, Yoruba Culture, Nigeria, Gelede, ca. 1940 to 1950 CE. A finely carved and vibrantly painted wooden headdress, with a figural bust boasting intricately incised hair of a serpentine form extending to one side pierced with a white metal ring, the head and neck emerging from a rounded, slightly conical collar that would have been attached to a headdress, with a red textile around its neck. The face is decorated with three horizontal scarifications on each cheek as well as the forehead, and presents wide open eyes with hollow pupils, nicely delineated lids, gently smiling lips, relatively naturalistic ears pierced for ornaments, and a high forehead. Additional red and white pigment remaining on areas of face and neck as well as black pigment on coiffure. A stunning piece of original African visual culture. Painted black, wood block stand. Size: 5.875" W x 7.5" H (14.9 cm x 19 cm)

Provenance: Ex - Adeon Gallery, Nick Poolos collection, Chicago, IL acquired before 1970

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#113773

Old repair to coiffure. Stable age cracks, inactive worm holes, surface wear, and losses to collar as shown.