Dan (Gio) Lu Me pair - Ivory Coast / Liberia

Description

Powerful Dan (Gio) Lu Me sculpture pair with sculptural calm, ritual intensity and exceptionally strong documentation.

These two wooden figures form a convincing and tight ensemble, carved from the same type of wood and clearly crafted by one hand. The compact bodies, heavy legs and long, ring-shaped necks give the sculptures an understated but very physical presence. The austere faces and stern posture create tension without theatrical exaggeration.

The sculptures originate from the collection of Georges Frederick Keller (1899–1981), one of the most influential European collectors of African art in the twentieth century, whose collection was exhibited at the Kunstmuseum Bern in 1980. Through Paolo Morigi, the Lugano-based art dealer and Africa specialist who catalogued the Bern exhibition, the sculptures entered the documentation that accompanies them today.

The deeply built-up, dark patina and visible signs of use betray long-term use and age. These are not sculptures made to decorate, but to function. It is precisely this restraint that makes the pair visually strong and substantively compelling.

Origin & meaning
This pair of statues belongs to the Dan culture; the term Gio refers to a regional subgroup within this area, as also used in the literature. Lu Me sculptures function within ritual and social contexts and emphasise balance, complementarity and interrelationship. That this pair has always been preserved as an ensemble reinforces its significance and collectible value.

Publications & exhibitions
- Paolo Morigi, Scultura II, Galleria Arte Primitivo, Lugano, 1975, no. 11
- Paolo Morigi, Raccolta di un amatore d'arte primitiva, Kunstmuseum Bern, 1980, cat. 85 / no. 83
- Exhibition: Art aus Afrika und Ozeanien. Eine unbekannte Privatsammlung, Kunstmuseum Bern, 22 Aug. - 2 Nov. 1980 (cat. no. 83, not shown)
– Arts d'Afrique Noire, no 82, 1992 (advertisement Van de Raadt / Van der Pas)

Provenance
- Paolo Morigi, Lugano, Switzerland
- Georges Frederick Keller (1899-1981), Davos/Paris, Switzerland/France

Dimensions & condition
Height: 39 and 39.5 cm (without plinths)
Width: approx. 14.5 cm
Depth: approx. 9 cm

Condition: good, authentic condition with natural wear, patina and signs of age; no disturbing restorations.