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Julien Gauthier

A chameleon becomes a contemporary art figure in this bold collaborative work from Malawi.

Piece attributed to Georges Mkumbula (but unsigned). He treats the animal’s body as a cubist canvas, breaking it into planes of colour and light—blocks of lilac, teal, ochre and cream that shift as the viewer changes position. The painting transforms the chameleon’s changing skin into a dynamic, modernist composition.

The sculptural form is carved from a single piece of local Malawian hardwood by master carver George Lassi. His elongated, stylised chameleon stretched along a branch offers a pure, flowing line that fully supports the painter’s geometric intervention.

The result is a one-of-a-kind contemporary artwork at the crossroads of sculpture and painting, firmly rooted in African contemporary art while engaging with international modernist aesthetics.

2022 - Wood - Excellent condition

Cubist Chameleon – One-of-a-Kind Contemporary African Sculpture & Painting - Sculpture - Malawi

African & Tribal Art

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Closing date

Saturday

Sunday

tomorrow

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12 May

today

13 May

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Location

France

Belgium

Spain

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Italy

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Austria

Finland

Croatia

Japan

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Size

S (10–40 cm)

M (40–80 cm)

L (over 80 cm)

XS (under 10 cm)

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Object

Tribal art and objects

Tribal masks

Tribal sculptures statues carvings and figurines

Figure

Mask

Sculpture

Dance mask

Fetish figure

Tribal books manuscripts and catalogues

Statue

Tribal textiles and clothing

Painting

Print

Ancestor figure

Spoon

Headrest

Neck rest

Decorative ornament

Tribal weaponry and shields

Tribal jewellery and adornments

Tribal architectural ornaments

Bracelet

Traditional drum

Basket

Reliquary

Country of origin

DR Congo

Nigeria

Mali

Côte d'Ivoire

Gabon

Congo

Côte d’Ivoire

Cameroon

Burkina Faso

Ghana

Benin

Togo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Africa

Tanzania

Angola

Netherlands

Madagascar

Guinea

Liberia

Mozambique

South Africa

Sierra Leone

Material

Wood

Bronze

Terracotta

Iron (wrought)

Paper

Copper

Brass

Leather

Bone

Metal

Stone

Iron

Textile

Aluminium

Cotton

Glass

Iron (cast/wrought)

Textiles

Patinated bronze

Shell

Softwood

15kt gold

Wrought iron

Gold

Bamboo

Gender

Unisex

Children

Condition

Good condition

Excellent condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Fair condition

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Good

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

As new - unused

Excellent

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Very good

Poor - heavily used with major cracks, damages or major parts missing

Very good condition, see description

Fair condition, see description

Needs restoration

Engraved

Fair

Extras

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Period

Late 20th century

Mid 20th century

1930-1940

2000-2010

1940-1950

1920-1930

1950-1960

2020+

1850-1900

1970-1980

Early 20th century

1980-1990

1990-2000

1910-1920

1960-1970

1900-1910

2010-2020

1800-1850

1500-1550

1700-1750

Mid 19th century

Early 17th century

Late 19th century

Certification

No laboratory report

Non-CITES species

Subject

Portrait

Nature

Anthropology

Landscape

Oceania

Style

Folk Art

Antique

Contemporary

Modern

Antique inspired

Neolithic

Naive Art

Technique

Mixed technique

African & Tribal Art

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Cubist Chameleon – One-of-a-Kind Contemporary African Sculpture & Painting - Sculpture - Malawi

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930 objects

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