Details
A FINE AND RARE YOMBE MATERNITY FIGURE, the mother kneeling on one knee on the circular base, one hand holding the child against her right leg, the other resting on a wooden vessel at her side, carved bracelet on one wrist and three carved pendants from a band above her breasts, the mother's upper torso and the child's face painted white with black spots, the arms, abdomen and coiffure painted black, remains of old label, various damages and repairs, extensive termite erosion to one side
72cm. high
Provenance
Raymond Mayné, entomologist
Raymond Mayné (born 1887 at Ixelles, Belgium) studied the collection of insects from Central Africa at Tervuren, as well as agriculture in Brussels: he also obtained a certificate, with distinction, in colonial studies in 1910. The following year he was appointed Entomologiste de la Colonie to the agricultural station at Congo da Lemba, responsible for an area covering some fifty plantations, the majority of which grew cocoa. He combed the forest and plantations for insect specimens which he sent to Tervuren, one of which, Maynea Maynei, still bears his name. In March 1912 he explored the potential of Yombe forests with Count J. de Briey, where they enjoyed friendly contacts with the inhabitants, and during which time he may have collected this maternity figure.
After nearly a year in Belgium, Mayné returned in January 1914 to the famous Botantical Gardens in Eala (Equateur), becoming the research director by July 1915. He spent the Christmas of 1916 in London with his brother (a famous Arsenal football player), where he completed his most important published work, Insectes et autres animaux attaquant le Cacaoyer au Congo Belge (1917). In July 1917 he was in German East Africa using his entomological knowledge to help the Belgian troops there combat the ravages of insect-born diseases. He returned to Europe in 1919, having sent Tervuren yet more insect specimens as well as several buffalo and antelope trophies: his friend P. Staner remembered his collection of statues, spears and other souvenirs which Mayné kept to remind him of the people he so admired, both for their art and their culture.
The lot is sold with a medal presented to Mayné in 1967 inscribed: 1967 Au Professeur au Protecteur de la Nature, Ses Amis
