Splendid Female Byeri On Its Nsekh - semi dense wood, bark, rottan - Fang - Betsi - Gabon

Splendid Female Byeri On Its Nsekh – Fang - Betsi – Gabon In fairly good state with some insect damage to the back. It dates from the 1920s or even prior to that. Provenance: Ex – collection of Prof. Dr. C. Bervoets, Louvain, Belgium. Acquired from him by H. Westerdijk around 1960. Obtained by Prof. Bervoets from the former collection of Gustav Umlauff. This highly elegant Eyema is a rarity, not only because it is female but also by its fineness. The fact that it is still sitting on its original box makes it even more special and scarce. The balance in this piece is extraordinary. The lady sits in full harmony with her hands resting on her upper legs. She has a youthful, rounded – out figure and a small, pretty head. Her hair is combed into a pointed lock, hanging down on one side only, while closely shaven on the other side. She truly is a black Venus with full sensuous lips and ditto breasts. She is firmly implanted into the cover of the Nsekh, both with feet and fixing pin. Fine glossy patina that continues into the skin of the box. Literature: Yves le Fur (ed.) : Les Forêts Natales, Paris, 2017, pp. 212 ff. Dimensions: 72 x 19 x 20 cm. Region / People: The Betsi live in N. W. Gabon. Material: semi dense wood, bark, rottan. Weight: 1. 86 kg. Sold with handwritten declaration of authenticity by Dr. P. Westerdijk, museum ethnologist and cultural anthropologist specialized, for over 50 years now, in the study of the material cultures in African nations that live south of the Sahara.