Anonymous Pende artist
Early 20th century
Wood, fibers, calabash, metal
height 11 in
Further images
While a few wooden figurative stoppers from the Pende are known, none of those still has its original gourd attached. In the literature these have been described as the medicine gourds used by diviners, but it is likely they could also serve a more private secular use. A metal hook attached to the fiber cords allowed for it to hung to a wall to protect its contents from rodents. The delicate wooden anthropomorphic stopper is characterized by the beautiful stylization of the human face and crowned with a magnificent coiffure. As the big eye sockets miss pupils, giving the face an intense, enigmatic gaze. A large protruding Adam’s apple’s clearly identify the head as male. While the type is generally attributed to the Pende culture, the style of the head could also point to a Mbala origin. As the calabash, the stopper has a beautiful deep patina, indicating its old age and long period of use. While it has never been published before, it can be considered as one of the most beautiful examples of its type.
Provenance
Colonial collection, Belgium
Michel Van den Dries, Gavere, Belgium
Sheherazade Bourahli collection, Belgium
Pascal Vernimmen, Ghent, Belgium
Duende Art Projects, Antwerp, Belgium, 2023
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