AUGUSTA SAVAGE (1892 - 1962) Untitled (Possibly Martiniquaise or Head of a Martinique Woman).
Painted plaster on a granite base, circa 1925-40. Approximately 165 mm; 6 3/4 inches high, with base 285 mm; 11 1/4 inches high. With the artist's signature stamp at the edge of the base verso. Numerous chips, small losses and 2 repaired breaks.
Provenance: Ex-collection Sarah West, New York; thence by descent to the current owner, New York. Sarah West was a close friend of Augusta Savage; she taught textiles, block prints and metal crafts at the Harlem Community Art Center during the WPA period (1937 -1942) when Savage was the director. West owned other important sculptures by Savage, including Gamin and Terpsichore, and paintings by fellow WPA instructors such as Rex Gorleigh and Norman Lewis.
This head appears to fit the title of a work listed by Savage as Martiniquaise or Head of a Martinique Woman made in Paris circa 1930 at the same time as Terpsichore. The head also relates to her Head of a Boy circa 1935, which is mounted on a very similar marble base. Bearden and Henderson p. 180. Thanks to Theresa Leininger-Miller for her assistance in this research.
