**Originally Listed At $3000** West Africa, Middle Benue River Valley, Nigeria, Mumuye peoples, ca. 1940s CE. A wonderful hand-carved wooden male ancestral figure standing atop delineated legs with pointed knees. The statue bears protruding hips and a lengthy phallus below an extremely narrow waist, a slender abdomen with a protruding navel, stocky shoulders flanking a puffed-out chest, and thin arms draped at his sides. The tubular neck presents a prominent Adam s apple as it supports a bulbous head which features incised circular eyes, a rectangular nose, and pursed lips, with panels hanging from his cheeks, and a crested coiffure on top. Espresso-hued natural pigment is visible across the entire figure, and smooth patina has formed in areas where the pigment has worn away. A lovely and intriguing figurative example from the Mumuye! Size: 4" W x 15.375" H (10.2 cm x 39.1 cm); 16.375" H (41.6 cm) on included custom stand. The artistic style of Mumuye figurative sculptures - like this example - is defined by long, narrow, and pole-like forms, with abstract facial features often carved or applied with pigment. The Mumuye create figures known as "iagalagana," entities who represent ancestral spirits, who provide instructions to new initiates of their secret society. Their abstract presentation reflects the role of the iagalagana as outside of the human world and the realm of physical existence. Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, acquired in 2018; ex-Berz Gallery of African Art, San Francisco, California, USA; ex-Olivier Larroque Gallery, Nimes, France All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #162796品相报告: Missing proper right ear. A few stable hairline fissures in areas. Expected surface wear with light nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nice patina.