Bird (Sejen) Statue
Museum-grade artifact
19th–20th century
Ivory Coast
Certificate of Authenticity
A vertically extended hornbill form, defined by continuous line and forward curvature rather than mass.
Description
A vertical figure articulated through extension rather than mass. The body rises in a narrow column, carried upward into an elongated neck that curves forward before resolving in the head. A continuous line runs from the base through the spine into the beak, unbroken and deliberate.
The wings are held as planar elements, set against the body and cut with parallel incisions. They establish a lateral counterpoint to the upward movement, stabilising the figure without interrupting its ascent. The legs remain slender and direct, supporting the structure with minimal transition.
The surface is dry and granular, with areas of abrasion exposing tonal variation across the wood. Carved bands and incised markings remain visible, reinforcing the organisation of the form without excess detail.
Context
Hornbill figures of this type occupy a central position within Senufo sculptural practice. The form is constructed through elongation and curvature, with emphasis placed on continuity and directional movement. The relationship between linear extension and planar interruption defines the object’s structure, while the restraint of mass maintains clarity across the whole.
Provenance
From the Felice Maffei Collection
Acquired in Ivory Coast, 1971
Available on private enquiry.
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