Online catalogue for the 53rd tribal art auction

361 Mask "okuyi"

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Punu

wood, dull patina, polychrome paint, a tapering, whitened facial plane with curved eye brows, small slit eyes and a red-coloured mouth, crowned by two horns, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, small missing parts

H: 35 cm
H: 13.8 inch

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362 Mask "okuyi"

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Punu

light-weighted wood, kaolin, black paint, oval hollowed form, a diadem-like head band separating the facial plane from the voluminous lobed coiffure, narrow slit bean-shaped eyes underneath curved brows, traces of old insect caused damage, crack (backside), hole on top of the head, abrasion, on metal base

H: 26 cm
H: 10.2 inch

Price: 800 - 1200 €

363 Mask "okuyi"

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Punu

light-brown wood, kaolin, black paint, of oval hollowed form, crowned by a coiffure with bulging middle lobe, flanked by flattened lobes aside, a tapering facial plane, heart-shaped deepened in the forehead area, delicate curved brows with raised bean-shaped, narrow-slit eyes below, a short nose, indicated by round nostrils, a tapering, blackened mouth underneath, raised tattoos on the forehead, slightly dam., abrasion, rest. (backside at the rim), on base; symmetrical arranged, delicate features, achieving a harmonic overall effect. variation of the "white masks of the ogowe". Originally used at funerary ceremonies, embodying male and female ancestors. The mask dancers wore costumes of raffia or cotton weave, while walking on high stilts and threatening the audiance with wild screams.

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Provenance
Colonial Collection, France, 1923

Literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Afrikanische Masken aus der Sammlung Barbier-Mueller, Genf, München, New York 1997, p. 75
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Afrika, Maske und Skulptur, Olten 1989, ill. 54 - 64

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364 Kneeling figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bakongo

wood, middle brown patina, kneeling on a flat square base, free carved arms with both hands resting on the knees, a strong neck supporting a wide upwards turned face with crude carved facial features, dam., missing part (right lower leg and part of the base), abrasion

H: 20,5 cm
H: 8.1 inch

Provenance
French Collection

Price: 700 - 1000 €

365 Dignitary staff

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bakongo

wood, shiny blackish brown patina, circular in cross section, the upper part decorated with a crocodile carved in relief, crowned by a kneeling figure with a standing figure on top of its head, the eyes inset with metal tags, min. dam., fissures, slight signs of abrasion, on wooden base

H: 97 cm
H: 38.2 inch

Provenance
Coll. Dr. Lagas, The Netherlands

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366 Small magical figure "nkisi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bakongo

bronze, dark patina, rising from a square base, short legs supporting a cylindrical torso, the arms carved free with both hands resting on the hips, a voluminous head with upturned face, showing a vivid expression with big eyes and full lips, the nose with accentuated nostrils, cap-like coiffure in top, min. dam.; the "nkisi nduda" were not especially adorned. Of real importance was their magic effectiveness and their ability for fortune-telling. They were used for warding of witchcraft, diseases and thieves.

H: 22,5 cm
H: 8.9 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, Zurich, Switzerland

Literature
Felix, Marc l. (Hg.), Kongo Kingdom Art - from ritual to cutting edge, Ausst.kat. China 2003, p. 103, cat. 2,4 and cat. 2,5

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367 Pot

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bakongo

wood, dark brown patina, of circular form with drilled handles, completely decorated with incised ornaments, the lid crowned by a small sitting figure with tribe-typical facial features, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion and minimal missing parts

H: 30,5 cm
H: 12 inch

Provenance
Colonial Collection
Johan Henau, Antwerp, Belgium

Literature
Stößel, Arnulf, Afrikanische Keramik, Traditionelle Handwerkskunst südlich der Sahara, München 1984, p. 344 f.

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368 Shield

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Tofoke

wood, rotan, black and white paint, rectangular, roof-shaped, a wide horizontal brace, the back of the shield is covered with split bamboo-like reeds tightly bound together, decorated with wickerwork, min. dam., fissures, signs of usage; one of the oldest sources on the presence of wooden shields in this region is from H.M. Stanley ("Durch den dunklen Weltteil", Leipzig 1881, vol. II, p. 288): "The shields were shaped like long rectangles, beautifully made from the bark of a palm tree and thus light, tough and impenetrable for knife and spear."

H: 113 cm; B: 45 cm
H: 44.5 inch; B: 17.7 inch

Literature
M. A. Zirngibl, D. Plaschke, Afrikanische Schilde, München 1992, p. 90 f.

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369 Magical object

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D. R. Congo, Vili

half-spherical, made of various layers of loose wickerwork, the top side closed by a blackish, terracotta-like mass, framed by four rows of knotted grass strings, revealing an animal skull in the centre, pieces of fur

D: ca. 14 cm, collected in situ, 1960
D: ca. 5.5 inch, collected in situ, 1960

Price: 1000 - 1500 €

370 Sitting figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yombe

wood, shiny brown patina, black and dark green paint, resting on a nearly square block, dressed with an apron, a cylindrical torso with an accentuated navel is carrying broad shoulders merging into free worked angled arms, the right hand holding a bottle, the left one a mug, the upper arms and the ankles are decorated with carved bracelets, nearly the whole back is covered with raised scarification marks, a strong neck is supporting an oval head with tribe-typical facial features and min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, small missing parts (toes); rare type! It probably depicts the deified spirit of intoxication.

H: 26 cm
H: 10.2 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, Antwerp, Belgium

Literature
Underwood, Leon, Figures in Wood of West Africa, London 1951, ill. 38
Volprecht, Klaus, Sammlung Clausmeyer, Afrika, Köln 1972, ill. 135

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