A SUPERB KOTA-SHAMAYE RELIQUARY FIGURE, Gabon

with shell (mollusca) eyes.

Galerie à la Reine Margot, Paris
Chaim and Renee Gross, New York, acquired from the above on October 1, 1951

Duveen Graham Gallery, New York, The Classical Art of Negro Africa, November 26 - December 14, 1957
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, The Classical Art of Negro Africa, January 8 - February 9, 1958

Duveen Graham Gallery (ed.), The Classical Art of Negro Africa, New York, 1957, cat. 52
Alain and Françoise Chaffin, L'Art Kota, Meudon, 1980, p. 99, cat. 22

Good condition overall; some metal bands on forehead and face, as well as parts of the metal sheet covering the coiffure and nose partially lost, with overlaying patina (old loss), as seen on photographs; scratched areas on inside front and reverse of bottom of figure, presumably resulting from ritual practice; drilled through bottom for mounting; exceptionally fine multilayered crusty patina with residue.
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