Djenne head, Mali - Lot 24

Djenne head, Mali Terracotta Dimensions: Height 16 cm - Width 13 cm Provenance: French private collection --- Djenne head , Mali Terracotta Dimensions: Height 16 cm- Width 13 cm Provenance: French private collection Djenne sculpture appeared around 700 AD and developed until 1700, in the middle of the vast floodplain of the interior Niger delta, which extends over 160,000 square kilometers and is framed by the mighty Niger River and its tributary the Bani, representing the skill, restrained elegance and poetry of an entire civilization. It is considered a "magnificent artistic style, a true gift of the river". (Bernard De Grunne) "The artistic style of Djenné-jeno is one of the greatest achievements to emerge from the conceptual framework of the oikoumène of the Mandé - a term as strong and multiple as its original Greek meaning, which refers to a 'civilized' world - whose center of gravity is the sacred Case of Kangaba, in southern Mali." (Bernard De Grunne) In 1943, Théodore Monod discovered a figurine of a kneeling woman at the Kaniana site, two kilometers west of the town of Djenné-Jeno. From 1950 onwards, initial research was undertaken under the aegis of Louis Desplagnes. If the richness and diversity of the attitudes, gestures and iconographic details are typical of Djenne statuary, this work corresponds remarkably well to the classic iconographic canons, but differs in its size, less imposing than usual, in its sensitive execution, and in the intensity of the meditative pose, accentuated by the touching gestures of the hands covering the face. Inscribed in a terracotta with fascinating nuances of tone, varying from ochre to yellow. The back seems invaded by undulating snakes in relief. According to Bernard de Grunne, "human figures covered with snakes represented very important figures - notably kings, queens or chiefs, who had the power to command the snakes." (Bernard De Grunne, Djenne, Jeno. 1000 ans de sculpture de terre cuite au Mali, Bruxelles, Fonds Mercator, p. 38). While there are a number of snake sculptures, this is one of the most accomplished. --- It originated around the year 700 AD and developed until 1700, in the midst of the vast flood plain of the Niger Interior Delta, which extends over more than 160,000 square kilometres and is framed by the mighty River Niger and its tributary the Bani, Djenné's sculpture represents the craftsmanship, the elegance and the poetry of a whole civilization. It is considered a "magnificent artistic style, a true gift of the river." (Bernard De Grunne) "Djenné-jeno's artistic style is one of the greatest achievements from the conceptual framework of the Mandé oikoumène - a term as strong and multiple as its original Greek meaning, which refers to a "civilized" world." - whose center of gravity is the Sacred House in Kangaba, southern Mali." (Bernard De Grunne) In 1943, Théodore Monod discovers a figure of a kneeling woman at the site of Kaniana, two kilometres west of the town of Djenné-Jeno. From 1950 onwards, the first research was undertaken under the aegis of Louis Desplagnes. If the richness and diversity of attitudes, gestures and iconographic details are specific to the Djenne statutaire. This work remarkably corresponds to the classical iconographic canons but is distinguished by its size, less imposing than usual, by its execution all in sensitivity, by the intensity of the meditative pose, accentuated by the touching gesture of hands covering the face. Inscribed in a terracotta with nuances of fascinating tones, varying from ocher to yellow. The back seems invaded by snakes in reliefs, undulating. According to Bernard de Grunne, "the human figures covered with snakes represented very important characters - notably kings, queens or chiefs, who had the power to command the serpents." (Bernard De Grunne, Djenne, Jeno. 1000 years of terracotta sculpture in Mali, Brussels, Fonds Mercator, p. 38). If there are a number of snake sculptures, this one is among the most completed. Crack at neck level down to the arm, probably reattached. One arm missing. Multiple rubs. In normal condition and age.