Burkina Faso, 20th century
Bronze, lost wax technique, 25 x 12 x 3.5 cm
Excellent condition.
A characterful bronze chameleon from Burkina Faso, cast using the lost-wax process and distinguished by its highly stylised, almost graphic treatment.
The animal is reduced to a series of strongly articulated forms: an arched, cross-hatched body edged by a serrated spine, attenuated legs, prominent circular eye and open mouth. Its tightly coiled tail provides the defining gesture, a sequence of concentric rings introducing an unexpectedly precise geometry to the otherwise irregular surface.
Chameleons recur within the visual and symbolic traditions of several peoples of Burkina Faso, where they appear in cast bronze in a variety of forms. Here, the immediacy of the animal is matched by the individuality of the casting, with subtle irregularities, wear and a warm, varied patina giving the surface considerable depth.
At once abstracted but also recognisable, the piece has a particularly strong silhouette and an engaging, slightly enigmatic presence.
Burkina Faso, 20th century
Bronze, lost wax technique, 25 x 12 x 3.5 cm
Excellent condition.
A characterful bronze chameleon from Burkina Faso, cast using the lost-wax process and distinguished by its highly stylised, almost graphic treatment.
The animal is reduced to a series of strongly articulated forms: an arched, cross-hatched body edged by a serrated spine, attenuated legs, prominent circular eye and open mouth. Its tightly coiled tail provides the defining gesture, a sequence of concentric rings introducing an unexpectedly precise geometry to the otherwise irregular surface.
Chameleons recur within the visual and symbolic traditions of several peoples of Burkina Faso, where they appear in cast bronze in a variety of forms. Here, the immediacy of the animal is matched by the individuality of the casting, with subtle irregularities, wear and a warm, varied patina giving the surface considerable depth.
At once abstracted but also recognisable, the piece has a particularly strong silhouette and an engaging, slightly enigmatic presence.
