The Monumental Baga Nimba (D’mba) Shoulder Headdress- Private Treaty Acquisition — Pricing Available Upon Request

Description

Standing a monumental 9 feet (274 cm) tall, this monolithic shoulder headdress is an absolute apex of classical African sculpture. Carved from a single log of dense native timber, this extraordinary D’mbarepresentation stands as a premier testament to the sculptural genius that fundamentally transformed the trajectory of Western Modernism, directly serving as a vital visual muse for Pablo Picasso’s 1930s avant-garde breakthroughs. [1, 2]

Exhibiting an uncompromised, masterfully structured morphology, the headdress is dominated by the archetypal hooked profile nose and an architectural vertical hair crest. The sweeping, cantilevered bust panels are fully incised with traditional geometric chevron, parallel, and herringbone scarification tracks, heavily accented by weathered brass upholstery tacks—a direct visual signifier of elite prestige and regional leadership. [1]

Supported by four massive, structurally flawless leg pillars, this monument possesses an impeccable, naturally aged dry crusted patina indicating extensive historical reverence and ritual placement. Backed by its celebrated public auction legacy at Sotheby’s, this monolithic sculpture represents a rare, blue-chip acquisition opportunity for institutional collections and premier private foundations worldwide.

Vetted Specifications:

Lineage: Authentic Baga Peoples, Guinea, West Africa [1]
Scale: 108 inches High x 24 inches Wide x 22 inches Deep (9 ft / 274 cm)
Materials: Dense Indigenous Hardwood, Hand-Incised Geometric Scarification, Weathered Brass Structural Tacks
Provenance Matrix: Vetted Collection History; Sold via Sotheby’s Fine African & Oceanic Art Categories (Documentation and lot certificate transferred to the buyer upon acquisition).
Condition Report: Outstanding museum-grade condition. The single-log timber retains an exceptionally stable, dry-aged matte surface patina. All structural relief panels, brass upholstery tacking, and adze-carved interior shoulder caviti

Additional information

Region	West Africa
Culture	Lobi People
Origin	Burkina Faso, West Africa
Estimated Period	Mid-20th Century (Circa 1950s–1970s)
Material	Carved Hardwood, Animal Horn, Glass Trade Beads, Leather, Fiber Cord
Height	24 inches (61 cm)
Condition	Excellent vintage condition. Wood shows beautiful natural aging and minor stable cracks consistent with genuine ritual use. All mixed-media attachments are structurally intact.