46.   A portrait bust of a man wearing jacket and tie



West Africa

(early twentieth century)

height: 58cm

inscribed on an old label underneath '41'


It is difficult to identify the exact origin of this head-and-shoulders bust. In some respects the treatment of the face bears some resemblance to the cantilevered forehead, angular cheeks, and pronounced nose, mouth and eyes seen in Dan masks. The representation of the sitter would appear to be sufficiently naturalistic for it to have served as a recognisable portrait.

© 2003 Michael Stevenson. All rights reserved.