Anonymous Senufo artist
Early 20th century
Wood, paint
height 15 3/4 in
Further images
The Senufo are well-known for their beautiful hornbill sculptures. While sometimes ranging up to 200 cm, the present example is very compact, yet indicative of the sublime stylization that defines the corpus. A key to the central message of these iconic sculptures can be found in one of their names: gabariga (“yellow-casques horn-bill”), who the Senufo consider to be the master (katyeenseo) among birds. The honorific title katyeenso is also given to members of the Poro initiation society who have shown exceptional intelligence and creativity, who are masters of a particular skill or the best of their initiate class.
Provenance
Collection Christian Debenest, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
By descent through family, 2016
Pierre Bergé, Paris, 8 April 2016, lot 99.
Galerie David Serra, Barcelona, Spain, 2017
Private Collection, Brussels, Belgium, 2024
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