
UNÛ. Prestigious African Weapons LA COLLECTION DE JACQUES BILLEN À L’HONNEUR
UNÛ. Prestigious African Weapons
JACQUES BILLEN’S COLLECTION IN HONOUR
After produced in 2021 with Bruno Claessens the book entitled UNÛ. Prestigious African Weapons, Jacques Billen unveils for the first time to the public his private collection of African weapons as part of an exhibition (not for sale) specially curated for the Parcours des Mondes.
A prominent figure in Egyptian archaeology, Jacques Billen is better known for his interest and expertise in Egyptology than for his discreet passion for the weapons of the African continent.
UNU is a Teke term referring to both prestige weapons and adornments.
For this exhibition, Jacques Billen has selected, with the help of Bruno Claessens, a hundred remarkable African weapons of the ethnic groups and territories of Angola, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan or Zimbabwe.
These knives, swords, axes, ornaments are all testimonies “celebrating the virtuosity of African blacksmiths”.
Directed by designer and decorator René Bouchara, the exhibition unveils pieces of very high quality that reveal the fineness of certain carved details as the use and functions of these weapons used in their time.
A second volume of UNÛ is being prepared and some of the objects included in it will be previewed for the 2023 edition of the Parcours des Mondes.
Exhibition
Bernard Jordan Gallery
12 rue Guénégaud
75006 Paris
Press review
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