Chamba Miniature Standing Female with Horse's Head, Based

Arms thrown wide and legs splayed, this figure is mid-leap on its black plinth.

This miniature standing female figure with a horse's head, on a base, in cast bronze is Chamba, from Nigeria, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. The Chamba of Nigeria and Cameroon are known for wood and metal sculpture, and figures combining human and animal features appear in the art of the region. Slender cast figure with a small crested head, outstretched wing-like arms and long forked legs. The surface is golden brown with patches of blue-green crust, especially around the chest. It is held on a thin rod above a square black base. It is 1.25 inches wide, 0.75 deep and 2.5 high.

Abstract enough to keep every guess honest.