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Sculptural Element from a Reliquary Ensemble: Head, 19th century (collected before 1914). Gabon. Fang peoples, Betsi group. Wood; H. 9 1/8 x W. 5 3/4 x D. 6 in. (23.2 x 14.61 x 15.24 cm). Curtis Galleries, Inc. Minneapolis MN
This work was eventually sold by New York–based dealer Robert J. Coady to an unknown collector.
Sculptural Element from a Reliquary Ensemble: Head. Gabon, Lower Ogooue River valley. Fang peoples, Betsi group. Wood; H. without base: 10 5/8 in. (27 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection, 1950
This work was eventually sold by Paris-based dealer Charles Vignier through New York–based dealer Marius de Zayas to Walter and Louise Arensberg.
Figure from a Reliquary Ensemble: Seated Male Holding Horn, 19th century (before 1913). Southern Cameroon, Lokoundje valley. Fang peoples, Ngumba group. Wood, metal strips; H. 23 5/8 in. (60 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection, 1950
Face Mask (Kpeliye'e), 19th–early 20th century (before 1913). Côte d'Ivoire, possibly Korhogo region. Senufo peoples. Wood; H. 13 5/16 x W. 7 5/16 x D. 3 9/16 in. (33.8 x 18.5 x 9 cm). The University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia
This work was eventually sold by New York–based dealer Robert J. Coady and acquired by John Quinn.
Maiden Mask, 19th–early 20th century (before 1922). Nigeria. Igbo peoples. Wood, pigment; H. 17 1/2 in. (44.4 cm). The University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia
This work was eventually acquired by John Quinn.
Mask (mukudj). Gabon. Punu peoples. Wood, pigment; H. 11 1/4 x W. 7 1/16 x D. 5 1/2 in. (28.5 x 18 x 14 cm). Mask: University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia (AF 5366); Photograph: Charles Sheeler, 1919, Gelatin silver print, plate XXIV of the John Quinn Album of African Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Anonymous Lender (L-R 2689.2001)
This work was eventually sold by New York–based dealer Robert J. Coady to John Quinn.
Seated Female Figure, 19th–early 20th century (before 1913). Nigeria. Ijo peoples. Wood; H.: 33 1/2 in. (85.09 cm). The University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia
This work was eventually sold by Paris-based dealer Charles Vignier through New York–based dealer Marius de Zayas to the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
Figure: Female, 19th–early 20th century (before 1913). Republic of the Congo. Beembe peoples. Wood with glass, white pigment, and animal claw; H. 23 11/16 x W. 5 1/2 x D. 4 1/2 in. (60.2 x 14 x 11.5 cm). The University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia
Mask for Men's Association (probably Bo nun amuin), 19th–early 20th century (before 1912). Côte d'Ivoire. Baule or Lagoon peoples. Wood, paint, and tacks; L. 27 5/8 in. (70.1 cm). The University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia
Joseph Brummer (1883–1947) abandoned his training as a sculptor to sell the African artifacts he found in secondhand shops and flea markets. What began as an informal trade with fellow artists became a career as one of the most influential art dealers active before World War II. Brummer sponsored the publication of the first text on African art, Negerplastik by Carl Einstein, and supplied many of its illustrations. As an antiquarian, Brummer also sourced medieval artifacts later acquired by institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum.