Unknown statue

Pieje · 21st April 2012, 10:07 AM

Hi all,

I have a statue of unknown origin. This is not a weapon, but I suspect that many collectors of ancient weapons do come across or do even collect other ethnographic things...any info will be appreciated.

Freddy · 21st April 2012, 04:03 PM

I don't think it is an original African statue. I guess it was made for tourists (as so many pieces we find on ebay and other auction sites). It's probably not very old.

Your statue shows some features of the Pende-tribe in Congo. That is just by looking at the eyes. But, I have never seen or heard of a statue with a wig like yours.

Sorry for the bad news.

Pieje · 21st April 2012, 04:57 PM

Hi Freddy, thanks for your reply. I'm not even sure that the statue is African..it seems old to me, but I can be wrong.

Indianajones · 22nd April 2012, 09:39 AM

Hi Pieje, I am also with Freddy; it is African with features of Pende but its not the 'good old thing' as we all know what that means. Yes it looks old and may be from the 1960's but . . . . . . .
It cant allways be a winner! he he

Pieje · 23rd April 2012, 12:53 PM

Thanks...no problem, old or not, I like it, that's the most important if you buy something.

Kipinga50 · 23rd April 2012, 03:35 PM

Hi Pieje,I agree with Freddy and indianajones, this statue is Pende and modern, the ancient appearance of the modern African pieces, statues such as weapons, is that counterfeiters bury the object, and wait for the earth and rain make their work on aging. These statues, like certain meets fake weapons are made of Ivory Coast and that in Cameroon and are imported in containers. Many African weapons are manufactured in Sicilia.

thinreadline · 24th April 2012, 12:36 PM

I agree with all the respondents on this . It looks old but this is very cleverly aged . I know of a guy who has a shop in the Portabello Rd , London who imports these from west Africa and sells them always with a story that appears to authenticate them though he never states that they are genuine .. his usual line is ... 'It was brought in by an old lady whose husband used to work for the Colonial Office in Nigeria etc etc ... '. You see him at many of the British militaria shows as well . They are so good and look so convincing to anyone not well versed with the originals .. but then you come to realise on further study, that stylistically they do not represent anything that is known to have been made in the past... they are fantasy pieces... good and decorative in their own right but not actually old.

21st April 2012, 10:07 AM	#1
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	Unknown statue Hi all, I have a statue of unknown origin. This is not a weapon, but I suspect that many collectors of ancient weapons do come across or do even collect other ethnographic things...any info will be appreciated. Attached Images

21st April 2012, 04:03 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I don't think it is an original African statue. I guess it was made for tourists (as so many pieces we find on ebay and other auction sites). It's probably not very old. Your statue shows some features of the Pende-tribe in Congo. That is just by looking at the eyes. But, I have never seen or heard of a statue with a wig like yours. Sorry for the bad news.

21st April 2012, 04:57 PM	#3
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	Hi Freddy, thanks for your reply. I'm not even sure that the statue is African..it seems old to me, but I can be wrong.

22nd April 2012, 09:39 AM	#4
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hi Pieje, I am also with Freddy; it is African with features of Pende but its not the 'good old thing' as we all know what that means. Yes it looks old and may be from the 1960's but . . . . . . . It cant allways be a winner! he he

23rd April 2012, 12:53 PM	#5
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	Thanks...no problem, old or not, I like it, that's the most important if you buy something.

23rd April 2012, 03:35 PM	#6
Kipinga50 Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sao Vicente Posts: 28	Hi Pieje,I agree with Freddy and indianajones, this statue is Pende and modern, the ancient appearance of the modern African pieces, statues such as weapons, is that counterfeiters bury the object, and wait for the earth and rain make their work on aging. These statues, like certain meets fake weapons are made of Ivory Coast and that in Cameroon and are imported in containers. Many African weapons are manufactured in Sicilia.

24th April 2012, 12:36 PM	#7
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	I agree with all the respondents on this . It looks old but this is very cleverly aged . I know of a guy who has a shop in the Portabello Rd , London who imports these from west Africa and sells them always with a story that appears to authenticate them though he never states that they are genuine .. his usual line is ... 'It was brought in by an old lady whose husband used to work for the Colonial Office in Nigeria etc etc ... '. You see him at many of the British militaria shows as well . They are so good and look so convincing to anyone not well versed with the originals .. but then you come to realise on further study, that stylistically they do not represent anything that is known to have been made in the past... they are fantasy pieces... good and decorative in their own right but not actually old.