Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure

On view

African Art

Figure,

20th century

Artist unrecorded
Kaka
2016-48

I first saw this Kaka figure in the Paris apartment of renowned collectors and dealers Hélène and Philippe Leloup, friends from our earliest days as collectors. It immediately grabbed my attention. It retained all of its original , crusty surface. Plus, it had a sphere of accumulation from the waist down, a feature that seemed extraordinary. Cleaning pieces or shining their surfaces to make them more palatable to Western eyes had always seemed the ultimate insult to the pieces and their makers. But this work’s surface was in untouched condition. When asked about it, Philippe told us that it was “his” piece, having purchased it before he met Hélène, and not for sale. My response was, “let me know if you ever change your mind.” Decades later, I asked again. That time, much to our amazement, the answer was a price.

Holly Ross, collector of African art and former consulting curator, Princeton University Art Museum

Information

Title
Figure
Dates

20th century

Maker
Artist unrecorded
Medium
Wood, leather, and organic material
Dimensions
36.8 × 12.7 × 11.4 cm (14 1/2 × 5 × 4 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Museum acquisition from the Holly and David Ross Collection, with the support of the Fowler McCormick Fund
Object Number
2016-48
Place Made

Africa, Cameroon

Culture
African
Type
ceremonial objects, sculpture
Materials
resin, mud, organic material, leather, wood
Techniques
carving
Subject
figures (representations)

[Galerie Argiles, Paris, France]; [purchased by Philippe Leloup, Paris, France by ca. 1975]; purchased by Holly and David Ross, Princeton, NJ, 2005; purchased by the Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ, 2016.

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The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

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