173 - Seated Female Figure, Bamana, Mali, Bougouni region.

Seated Female Figure, Bamana, Mali, Bougouni region. An imposing sculpture carved from dense wood depicting a seated female figure; its monumental construction attests to great sculptural mastery. The face, with its introspective expression, is distinguished by its half-closed eyes, straight nose, and distinctive mouth with strongly protruding lips. It is crowned by a spectacular high-crested hairstyle, extended by two long side braids reaching down to the shoulders—a particularly distinctive stylistic feature. The powerfully projected conical breasts, the angular arms drawn back toward the chest, and the generously rounded abdomen combine to form a silhouette of rare presence, where the architectural rigor of the lines blends with the fullness of the forms. The wood displays a deep brown-gray patina, with heavily eroded surfaces and significant visible signs of age, including cracks and wear that attest to prolonged aging. This sculpture belongs to the corpus of large Jo/Gwan female figures from the Bougouni region. The design of her headdress, the rendering of her face, and the arrangement of her limbs allow for particularly compelling stylistic parallels with several major works documented in important collections. Comparative references: Zacke Auktion, Vienna, September 11, 2026, lot 28. Christie’s, Paris, December 3, 2020, lot 66. These comparisons highlight the affinities in design and sculptural vocabulary that link this work to a particularly sought-after tradition of Bamana statuary. Height: 102 cm