Circa 1880, Extremely Rare, Carved Wood, Edo (Bini) People, Articulated Lay Figure (Nigerian).
 
This wood carved artist's mannequin was purchased from the private collection of the late Michael Jaffé CBE (1923-1997), Art Historian and Curator, Renowned Art and Antiquities Collector, and former Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
 
It's hand-crafted from hardwood, with spring mechanisms, enabling specific, complex poses, acting as a 'silent model'.
 
It included a description taken from a Lloyd's of London insurance document, dated 12th April 1973:
 
"This wood carved artist's model was a most generous and thoughtful gift received from David Piper at The Fitz. It depicts an Edo people male intricately carved in the late 19th century in Benin City. David regaled how he received it as a gift while working at the National Portrait Gallery after the Second World War, he thinks circa 1950, from Oba Akenzua II, the Oba of Benin who has reigned since 1932. Oba Akenzua II explained to David how in 1942 in his quest to return the Benin Bronzes to his country, the 'doll' had been returned to him from a prominent family in London. David and I excitedly postulated which artist's may have studied this mannequin and for which illustrious sitters."
 
Benin City, the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria, is a historic city famous as the former heart of the 13th-century Edo Kingdom of Benin, and for its renowned figural bronze figural castings, ivory carvings and terracottas to honour the Oba (King), Queen Mother (Iyoba), and court officials of the Benin Kingdom (1440–1897). The city was largely destroyed in 1897 by a British expedition, which led to the looting of antiquities and the famous 'Benin Bronzes' now found in museums worldwide.
 
The last photo (for comparison) is of a terracotta 'EDO HEAD', exhibited at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Royal Art of Benin from the Perls Collection," January 16–September 13, 1992.
 
PROVENANCE:

From the Estate of Michael Jaffé CBE (1923-1997), Art Historian and Curator, Renowned Art and Antiquities Collector, and former Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
 
ABOUT MICHAEL JAFFÉ:
 
Michael Jaffé CBE will be remembered above all for his tireless policy of acquisition: not just of the great paintings which he rescued from the threat of foreign purchase - Van Dyck's Virgin and Child, Stubbs's Gimcrack and Renoir's La Place Clichy - but of innumerable other works large and small, all of top quality and interest, from many historical periods and in many media.
 
He was educated at Wagner's, Eton College, Harvard University and Courtauld Institute, and was a Fellow of King's College (1952-97), Lecturer in Fine Arts, Cambridge University (1956-60), Professor of Renaissance Art, Washington University (1960-61); and Director, Fitzwilliam Museum (1973-90). He authored several, important art books and catalogues.
 
Michael Jaffé's notable personal collection at Clifton Maybank in Somerset, was a second museum of sorts, displaying his erudite personal collection of rare art and antiquities which predominantly included figurative sketches, figurative bronzes and artist's lay figures.
 
Of interest, Michael Jaffé was a student of Anthony Blunt, who was a leading British art historian, whose fame rests largely on his notoriety as the 'Fourth Man', one of Cambridge's Soviet spies.
 
In 1973, Michael Jaffé succeeded David Piper as Director of The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

From the Obituary:
 
Andrew Michael Jaffé, art historian and curator: born 3 June 1923; Fellow, King's College, Cambridge 1952-97; Assistant Lecturer in Fine Arts, Cambridge University 1956-60, Lecturer 1961-68, Reader in History of Western Art 1968-73, Head of Department of History of Art 1970-73, Professor of the History of Western Art 1973-90 (Emeritus); Professor of Renaissance Art, Washington University 1960-61; Director, Fitzwilliam Museum 1973-90 (Emeritus); CBE 1989; author of Van Dyck's Antwerp Sketchbook 1966, Rubens 1967, Jordaens 1968, Rubens and Italy 1977, Rubens: catalogo completo 1989; editor of The Devonshire Collection of Italian Drawings 1994; died Yeovil, Somerset 13 July 1997.