|
|
|
 |
To understand Ldamie and his impact on African Art in general, and the art of Liberia, in particular, it is important to discover when his works were first collected.
This gallery includes works collected as early as 1922. All of the work in this gallery was collected before 1930, except one that could have been collected as late as 1932.
In other words, Ldamie had established the broad outlines of his work in the 1920s, during which period he sold several objects to the Brooklyn Museum Expedition, and many more to private collectors.
It can hardly be maintained, therefore, that Ldamie produced his early work solely "for an occasional chief or wealthy man," until "Ldamie's big break . . . when a government official visited Gaple with a broken typewriter . . . [after which time, Ldamie] began casting brass figures for officials to take home with them to the national capitol, Monrovia," as maintained by Barbara Johnson in Four Dan Sculptors (1986) p. 53. To make her narrative work, Johnson totally ignored the essential role of private collectors from America, in promoting and preserving his work.
Nor can Ldamie's work accurately be described as "tourist art," since the first sales were also well before tourism - and the accompanying tourist markets - had been established in Liberia. The concept of tourist art itself is based on nostalgia, the mythology of the "noble ancestor" and a desire to promote African cultural stasis. It is a concept designed to disparage and trivialize the art of early and mid-century modernist African artists.
Like Jackson Pollock in his relationship with Peggy Guggenheim, Ldamie produced his work not for tourists, but for his patrons, all of whom were long-term residents of Liberia, with the exception of objects collected by the Brooklyn Museum Expedition, and later, by the Austrian anthropologist, Etta Becker-Donner. |
|
A.
Collected during the
Brooklyn Museum
Expedition of 1922
| |
Figure 013001
Artist: Attributed to Bwayen; We People /
Liberia; beyond question Ldamie / Dan People;
female figure with machete; collected
Brooklyn Museum Expedition 1922; brass
(copper alloy); 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm); Brooklyn Museum
Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.221.
|
|
Figure 013002
Artist: Attributed to Bwayen; We People /
Liberia; beyond question Ldamie / Dan People;
standing female figure; collected by Brooklyn
Museum Expedition 1922; brass (copper alloy);
9 in. (22.9 cm); Brooklyn Museum: Robert B.
Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.254.
|
|
Figure 013003b
Artist: Attributed to Bwayen; We People /
Liberia; beyond question Ldamie / Dan People;
man with hat carrying spear; collected during
Brooklyn Museum Expedition 1922; brass (copper
alloy); 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm); Brooklyn Museum
Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.222.
|
|
Figure 013004
Artist: Attributed to Bwayen; We People /
Liberia; beyond question Ldamie / Dan People;
man with hat carrying knife and ritual object;
collected during Brooklyn Museum Expedition
1922; brass (copper alloy); 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm); Brooklyn
Museum; Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.212.
|
|
B.
Collected by John Oliver La Gorce, former President of
National Geographic Society, 1928 or earlier |
|
Figure 005001
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure winnowing rice; collected
before 1928; brass (copper alloy); 8 1/4 in.
(21 cm); gift of John Oliver La Gorce Estate;
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural
History; No. E398838.
|
|
C.
Collected by John Gant,
Firestone Tire & Rubber
Employee at the Firestone
Rubber Plantation in Liberia
between 1920 and 1928 |
|
Figure 011001
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure with staff; collected
between 1920 and 1928 by Firestone
Plantation employee, John Gant; brass
(copper alloy); 8 in. (20.3 cm). Indianapolis
Museum of Art; Gift of Mr. and Mrs.
Harrison Eiteljorg; No. 1989-335.
|
|
D.
Collected by Walter Wilson,
Firestone Tire & Rubber
Employee at the Firestone
Rubber Plantation in Liberia
prior to 1930 |
|
Figure 013010
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
crocodile; collected 1926-30 by Walter Wilson;
brass (copper alloy); 1-15/16 x 1-9/16 x 11-7/16 in
(5 x 4 x 29 cm); Brooklyn Museum;
No. 2012.75.7; Gift of Tom and Anna Boyle
|
|
Figure 013007a
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with drum; collected
1926-30 by Walter Wilson;
brass (copper alloy); 8 11/16 x 3 1/8 x 3 3/8 in.
(22 x 8 x 8.5 cm); Brooklyn Museum;
No. 2012.75.8; Gift of Tom and Anna Boyle
|
|
Figure 013007b
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with drum; collected
1926-30 by Walter Wilson;
brass (copper alloy); 8 11/16 x 3 1/8 x 3 3/8 in.
(22 x 8 x 8.5 cm); Brooklyn Museum;
No. 2012.75.8; Gift of Tom and Anna Boyle
|
|
Figure 009002
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure carrying child; collected
1926-30 by Walter Wilson; brass (copper alloy);
7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm); collection of
William Logan Fry.
|
|
Figure 013006
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People, Liberia;
slave trader with bound slave; collected
1926-30 by Walter Wilson, employee
the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Liberia
brass (copper alloy); Brooklyn Museum
|
|
Figure 013005
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People, Liberia;
man holding unknown objects; collected
1926-30 by Walter Wilson, employee
the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Liberia
brass (copper alloy); Brooklyn Museum
|
|
Figure 013008
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People, Liberia;
man holding unknown object; collected
1926-30 by Walter Wilson, employee
the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Liberia
brass (copper alloy); Brooklyn Museum
|
|
Figure 013009
Artist: possible Ldamie; Dan People, Liberia;
horse and horseman; collected
1926-30 by Walter Wilson, employee
the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Liberia
brass (copper alloy); Brooklyn Museum
|
|
E.
Collected by Sidney de la Rue, American Financial Advisor to Liberia's President Charles Dunbar Burgess King.
Prior to 1929
Sidney de la Rue left Liberia in 1929 by reason of illness. |
|
Figure 002002
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with drum; collected
before 1935 by Sidney De La Rue;
brass (copper alloy); 8 in. (20 cm);
American Museum of Natural History;
Gift of Sidney De La Rue; No. 90.2/3387
|
|
Figure 002002
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with drum; collected
before 1935 by Sidney De La Rue;
brass (copper alloy); 8 in. (20 cm);
American Museum of Natural History;
Gift of Sidney De La Rue; No. 90.2/3387
|
|
Figure 002003
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with drum; collected
before 1935 by Sidney De La Rue;
brass (copper alloy); American
Museum of Natural History; Gift of
Sidney De La Rue; No. 90.2/3386
|
|
Figure 002001
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure with ax; collected
before 1935 by Sidney De La Rue;
brass (copper alloy); 9 1/16 in. (22.7 cm);
American Museum of Natural History;
Gift of Sidney De La Rue; No. 90.2/3385
|
|
Figure 002004
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
seated male figure with drum; collected
before 1935 by Sidney De La Rue;
brass (copper alloy); American
Museum of Natural History; Gift of
Sidney De La Rue; No. 90.2/3458.
|
|
F.
Collected by Conrad T. Bussell, prior to 1930 |
|
Figure 003004
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
Female Figure Holding a Knife; collected
1929 or earlier by Conrad T. Bussell; brass
(copper alloy); 6.8 in. (17.3 cm). Baltimore
Museum of Art; Gift of Catherine and
Robert B. Bussell; BMA 1998:446.
|
|
Figure 003005
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
Female Figure; collected 1929 or earlier
by Conrad T. Bussell; brass (copper alloy);
8.39 in. (21.3 cm). Baltimore Museum
of Art; Gift of Catherine and Robert B.
Bussell; BMA 1998:445.
|
|
Figure 003001
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure carrying water; collected
1929 or earlier; brass (copper alloy); xx in.
(xx cm). Baltimore Museum of Art;
Gift of Catherine and Robert B. Bussell;
BMA 1998:447.
|
|
Figure 003002
Artist: Attributed to Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with drum; collected 1929 or earlier by
Conrad T. Bussell; brass (copper alloy); (20.8 x 8 x 6 cm)
8 3/16 x 3 5/32 x 2 23/64 in; Baltimore Museum of Art;
No. 1998.444; Gift of Catherine and Robert B. Bussell
|
|
Figure 003003
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
Kneeling Male Figure Missing Lower Arm;
collected 1929 or earlier by Conrad T.
Bussell; brass (copper alloy); 4.3 in. (11 cm).
Baltimore Museum of Art; Gift of Catherine
and Robert B. Bussell; BMA 1998:450.
|
|
Figure 003006
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
Male Figure Blowing a Horn; collected
1929 or earlier by Conrad T. Bussell; brass
(copper alloy); 6.7 in. (17 cm). Baltimore
Museum of Art; Gift of Catherine and
Robert B. Bussell; BMA 1998:448.
|
|
Figure 003007
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
Male Figure Blowing a Horn; collected
1929 or earlier by Conrad T. Bussell; brass
(copper alloy); 6.0 in. (15.3 cm). Baltimore
Museum of Art; Gift of Catherine and
Robert B. Bussell; BMA 1998:449.
|
|
G.
Collected by George W. Harley, Missionary, 1932 or earlier |
|
Figure 001004
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
blacksmith; collected 1932
or before by George W. Harley;
brass (copper alloy); 6 1/8 in. (15.4 cm);
Sold to Peabody Museum of Natural
History (Cambridge) by George W.
Harley; No. 32-49-50/49.
|
|
Figure 001001
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with cane; collected
in 1930 or before by George W. Harley; brass
(copper alloy); 8 1/4 in. (21 cm); Sold to Peabody
Museum of Natural History (Cambridge)
by George W. Harley; No. 30-36-50/B4850.
|
|
H.
Collected by Walter Logan Fry,
1934 - 1936
/ and /
William Logan Fry
2008 - 2023
|
|
Figure 007001
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure winnowing rice; collected
1934-1935 by Walter Logan Fry; brass
(copper alloy); 7 1/2 in. (19 cm).
collection of William Logan Fry.
|
|
Figure 007002
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure carrying water; collected
1934-1935 by Walter Logan Fry; brass
(copper alloy); 8 11/16 in. (22 cm).
collection of William Logan Fry.
|
|
Figure 007003
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure with machete; collected
1934-1935 by Walter Logan Fry; brass
(copper alloy); 8 in. (20.2 cm).
collection of William Logan Fry.
|
|
Figure 007004
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure with leopard tooth
necklace; collected 1934-1935 by
Walter Logan Fry; brass (copper alloy);
7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm). collection of
William Logan Fry.
|
|
Figure 009002
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
female figure carrying child; collected
1926-30 by Walter Wilson; brass (copper alloy);
7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm); collection of
William Logan Fry.
|
|
Figure 007005
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with cane; collected
1934-1935 by Walter Logan Fry;
brass (copper alloy); 7 9/16 in.
(19.1 cm). collection of
William Logan Fry.
|
|
Figure 009001
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
acrobats; collected in 1962 by
Paolo Morigi; brass (copper alloy);
11 in. (28.5 cm). Collection of
William Logan Fry
|
|
|
Figure 009003
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
elephant; collected early 2000s by
Dr. Christopher Steiner; brass (copper
alloy); 3 1/2 in. (9 cm); collection of
William Logan Fry
|
|
Figure 007006
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with slit drum; collected
1934-1935 by Walter Logan Fry; brass
(copper alloy); 10 11/16 in. (27.1 cm).
collection of William Logan Fry.
|
|
Figure 007006
Artist: Ldamie; Dan People / Liberia;
male figure with slit drum; collected
1934-1935 by Walter Logan Fry; brass
(copper alloy); 10 11/16 in. (27.1 cm).
collection of William Logan Fry.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
