sculpture - - - YORUBA - - - Nigeria

a rare and fine YORUBA kneeling figure. The sculpture was most likely formerly part of a shango staff, with the lower part - probably just a plain handle - obviously once removed. The sculpture is made from hard wood with a dark brown surface and very good patina from handling and use. Partially colored with blue pigment. The object comes from a German collection from which I've obtained the sculpture about seven years ago. According to his grandson (now in his 80s) , the former collector, Mr. Johannes Engels (1887-1966) relocated to (German-) South-East-Africa as member of the German Africa Corps around 1915 and later worked as a (structural) engineer in Tanzania. He has lived in various locations across Africa until the end of WWII, amongst others in Leopoldville / Kinshasa.