Senufo Standing Male Figure – Ex. Margaret Fusbahn Collection

Height: 44 cm
Origin: Senufo people, Côte d’Ivoire / Mali region
Provenance: Collection of Margaret Fusbahn (1907–2001), pioneering German aviator and one of the first women to fly to Africa in the early 1930s.

This finely carved male figure represents the refined artistry of the Senufo, one of West Africa’s most admired artistic traditions. Standing figures such as this were often associated with the Poro society, the central male initiation and religious order of the Senufo, and served as guardians, ancestral mediators, or participants in initiation rituals.

The work is characterized by its balanced proportions, elongated form, and calm, dignified expression—hallmarks of Senufo carving. Figures like these were believed to embody spiritual presence and provide protection for the community.

What makes this piece especially remarkable is its provenance. It once belonged to Margaret Fusbahn, a pioneering German aviator who set altitude records and made historic flights to Africa with her husband in the early 1930s. Her adventurous life and collecting eye add a unique layer of history and romance to this work of African art.

A rare opportunity to acquire a Senufo sculpture with both cultural depth and documented provenance.