Africa, Mumuye wood figure, Nigeria, Benue River Valler Region, height 18 inches, circa 1900-1950, fine dark patina. Provenance:Gallery Argile, Paris Facial features of eyes, nose, and mouth are flattened onto the form of the head. The head has large ears and facial scarification. The body and legs of the figure are highly abstract and cubistic in form. There are no arms. Armless Mumuye figures are rare. Frank Hermann, former director of the Museum of African Art in ny has written a study of this rare group of armless Mumuye figures. He considers this sculpture to be the oldest example he has seen.