Village Woman with Bowl

Ewe — Togo

A standing figure defined by vertical alignment and controlled asymmetry, Ewe.

Description

The figure is organised along a central vertical axis, stabilised through the legs and carried upward into a raised arm that supports the vessel. The opposing arm bends inward, the hand resting against the chest, introducing a measured asymmetry that activates the otherwise stable structure.

The head bears a lidded bowl set directly on the crown, integrated into the composition rather than applied to it. The vessel is broad and slightly flared, its surface carved in relief with paired birds facing one another. Their bodies and feathering are rendered through dense, radiating incision, establishing a continuous patterned field across the upper register.

The torso is compact and rounded, with softly modulated transitions between planes. Modelling is more plastic than reductive, with volumes held in continuity rather than broken into discrete elements.

The legs are short and firmly planted, terminating in a circular base incised with repeated patterning that anchors the figure.

Adornment remains present: a multi-strand beaded necklace at the neck and a textile wrap at the waist. These elements sit within the structure of the figure, integrated without disrupting its form.

Surface shows a warm, worn patina, with areas of polish and abrasion at exposed points, consistent with sustained handling.

Context

Within Ewe carving traditions, figures of this type articulate balance through structure rather than narrative.

The act of carrying is resolved through alignment, weight distribution, and counterpoint between the arms. The vessel and figure operate as a single unit, with vertical extension completed at the crown.

Surface wear records continued use, the object shaped over time through handling as much as through carving.

Provenance

From the Felice Maffei Collection

Acquired in Togo, 1983

Available on private enquiry.