Lobi couple, Burkina Faso

6.24” / 16cm (female) - 8” / 20.3cm (male)
ex private collection Paris
ex Scott McCue, CA
ex Sebastian Fernandez, NY
exhibited at Pace African & Oceanic Art, NYC (2018)
ex Peter-Michael Boyd, OR

A really fantastic Lobi couple by a known hand. I believe they are from the Loropeni region, and carved by Nifoute Pale. Apparently figures from this carver/workshop vary quite a bit in style and quality, but I’d venture to say these are some of his better work.

The couple was separated in Oregon in 2021 when the male figure was sold to a collector who only collected male figures. I managed to acquire the male figure and reunite the couple again. I am selling them as a couple and will not break up the couple again.

The female figure is represented with a lip plug which was something often worn by Lobi women, but you don’t see this feature represented often in their sculpture.

I particularly love the elongated arms and eyes, as well as the angular representation of the buttocks, belly and breast. I also like that the same angularity is represented in the heads as well where the eyebrows meet the jaw-line.

$1,800 plus shipping

SOLD

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