Unknown

femme assise, art africaine - bois, 91x23x19 cm.

Very Big Ceramic from "Les Argonautes" Vallauris Workshop "Les Argonautes", Vallauris: Isabelle Ferlay (1917-?) And Frédérique Bourguet (1925-1997) Isabelle Ferlay and Frédérique Bourguet founded their ceramic workshop in Vallauris in 1953, which they named "Les Argonautes", in reference to the famous Greek epic. Isabelle studied painting at the Fine Arts school of Lyon in 1940, then she attended the Fine Arts in Marseille. Finally, she finished her artistic training in Montpellier, at the Fontcarade national school, where she learned ceramics. Françoise dit Frédérique Bourguet studied at the Beaux-Arts in Montpellier until 1945 and it was in Sèvres, in Françoise Bizette's studio, that she trained in the art of ceramics. She created her first workshop in Paris in 1945, which she shared with Valentine Schlegel until 1951. The two women ceramicists then practiced modeling technique. It was in 1953 that she met Isabelle Ferlay and together, they decided to set up a workshop in Vallauris. They produce shaped pieces, sometimes molded, made of earthenware, enamelled in bright colors. In the 1970s they made stoneware cooked over a wood fire. Some ceramists frequented their workshop, notably the very talented Jacques Innocenti and François Raty.

Sculpture in terracotta.

Sculpture made of clay depicting a seated man in a cubist way

Marquetry made of many different kind of wood as listed by the artist, Jean-Luc Merigot, on the back of the panel. Né en 1950. Musicien professionnel jusqu’en 1977, il enseigne et joue la musique baroque au sein d’un trio. Il fuit Paris en 1977 et se consacre au travail du bois, des bois, d’abord sous la forme d’objets décoratifs...

Ceramic from school of Vallauris

Ceramic Sculpture from Albisola, (Savona), Italy

Early 20th century zoomorphic African puppet head sculpture from the Bozo tribe in Mali. This puppet head would have been used by the Bozo ethnic group during the Sogobo ceremony. This ancestral tradition continues in the region of Segou in Mali along the Niger river. It is an opportunity to regroup the different villages and give rise to musical and theatrical performances whose highlight is the puppet show...

"Senufo Mask of Ceremonies (from Republic Ivory Coast)" is an carved wood artifact from the Senufo people of Africa, in the northeastern cote d'Ivoire. The...

A large scale and beautifully carved wooden ceremonial mask from Cameroon. There are traces of colour and decoration to the surface and the mask has a magnificent patina giving it a wonderful presence as a sculptural object. The Batcham Mask or simply the Batcham originated in western Cameroon although its name refers to the place where it was first found: Batcham. This is a ceremonial mask from the Bamileke culture in the western Grasslands of Cameroon. This tall crest (76 cm in height) has clearly defined features, a powerful yet calm visage, sharply chiselled diamond and triangular furrows, and nearly perfect symmetry. Such painstaking craftsmanship underscores the sophistication and control of the sculptor in preparing this ceremonial piece. It shares the elements of Batcham masks including: The general morphology is built on two axes: a symmetrical vertical axis with chiseled furrows, stylized eyes, lips, nostrils, mouth and teeth; a horizontal axis presenting swollen cheeks, an ovular mouth showing multiple teeth, and triangular ears supported on a hollow cylindrical base. One interpretation is that the masks depict a hippopotamus emerging from watery depths, conveying nature’s power conferred to enthroned royalty. The Batcham mask represents the pi, or double animal of a great dignitary of the kingdom. It was used by a great dignitary of the Msop society who intervened only on rare occasions: during the funeral and enthronement of the king and the nine notables, and to perform the Royal Tso dance, elephant dance...

"Idgo Nigeria Female Standing" is a wooden statue with blue and white pigment created in Nigeria circa 1930. This figure stands up right with arms out slightly in front of her. A st...

Representing the forces of female fecundity, these statues were used in rituals to make these forces work. This type of figure was known under the tribal name of Alangua. Standing an...

"Nail Fetish Bacongo-Zaire" is a sculpture made of glass, wood, and metal created circa 1910. He has a top hat upon his head and face paint. Their right ha...