A rare and very old helmet from a corpus that is as rare as - Lot 59

A rare and very old helmet from a corpus that is as rare as it is poorly documented. The removable figure attached to its top is nevertheless characteristic of Keaka statuary (southeast of the Cross River), with its flared volumes, arched torso extended by short arms with sketched hands, and summarized face with a half-open mouth streaked with teeth. The thick, dark, crusty patina that envelops it, bearing witness to its cult importance and age, is one of the distinctive features of this art. According to Viviane Baeke, Keaka mask-casks are part of a so medicinal rite, referring to an exceptional spiritual being (cf. Lebas, Arts du Nigeria dans les collections privées françaises, 2012, p.287). Keaka, Cameroon Hardwood, old accidents and small visible chips, superb old soot and wear patina. Height: 43.5cm Provenance: Galerie Argile, Paris Galerie Argile, Paris, 1970 Sotheby's, Paris, June 21, 2017, n°40 Hélène Leloup Collection, Paris Transmitted by descent