Lokale artiest - Figure - Mali • Decoratief houten beeld "Le Penseur", handgesneden • hoogglans gepolijst • tweede helft 20e - Wood

West Africa, Mali • Abstract wooden sculpture "Le Penseur", hand-carved • Kneeling, contemplative male figure, high-gloss polished • Likely second half of the 20th century

A strongly abstracted wooden sculpture of a kneeling, contemplative man, carved from a single piece of wood and finished in a honey-brown high-gloss polish. The head, a smooth oval without facial features, rests on the hand on the knee. The long, slender limbs leave a lot of open space, making the silhouette appear light despite 610 grams of solid wood.

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In one glance:

Material: wood, species not determined with certainty; carved from a single block

Dimensions: H 31 x W 12 x D 9 cm

Weight: 610 g

Brand: no factory mark, signature or label found

Dating: probably second half of the 20th century

Origin: private collection of West African art

Description and context:

The figure rests on one kneeling foot, the other leg drawn up. The resting surface under the foot is a functionally flat cut surface, without a loose pedestal. This type is commonly offered in the international art trade as hand-carved West African work, including from Mali, alongside similar works from Senegal and Ghana. Bamako is a documented center of modern sculpture and of woodcarving for export; Malian artisans themselves call this type "Le Penseur", the thinker. In color and weight the wood is better suited to a mid-weight type such as veneer (kosso) than to the much heavier ebony.

Condition:

Good. Back at neck height: a fine longitudinal crack, a normal shrinkage crack of solid wood, no damage. Front lower leg: a small dark knot, a natural wood feature. No breaks, loss of parts, or restorations visible. The underside has not been photographed separately; a mark there cannot be ruled out. See the images.

In interior:

A vertical, organic accent in a mid-century modern, eclectic, or bohemian interior. On a cabinet or side table the polished surface catches grazing light, giving form and the wood grain relief.

Shipping:

Professionally packed in a sturdy box with cushioning material, for fragile objects a double box. Always insured, shipped with Track and Trace. See the feedback from previous buyers.

Attribution and sources:

The collector purchased this in the capital Bamako, Mali, from a small art shop.

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