Online catalogue for the 55th tribal art auction
391 Sitting male guardian figure "byeri"
This object is not available any more.
Gabon, Fang
wood, blackish brown patina, encrusted in some areas, ring-shaped, round thighs and extremely short lower legs constricted in bulges, supporting an elongated, slender trunk with protruding navel, dominated by broad shoulders with muscular breast and upper arms, both hands resting on the abdomen, a strong neck crowned by a big head with a heart-shaped flattened facial plane, the eyes inset with brass sheet discs, flanking a flat, triangular nose, a broad mouth with indicated teeth situated at the tip of the chin, the coiffure arranged in three neck lobes, by a diadem-like headband separated from the facial plane, a round cavity at the back, filled with magical substances, the original plug at the bottom for insertion of the figure into the skull receptacle was removed, place of repair, slightly dam., minor missing parts (feet), cracks (back, tigh and lower arm left hand side, upper part of the body to the front), on base; the worship of the relics of the family's illustrious dead is widespread in the whole of Fang country. It could be an autonomous worship within a lineage, or a part of a larger set of rites like those of the secret societies for example. It is characterized by the conservation of the relics of the groups notables, set aside after death in the graves (the skulls are kept above all, and often other bones for specific rites). Women are often elevated to the rank of ancestor of the "byeri", especially very prolific mothers. By keeping the relics people hoped to gain the favour of the mighty deceased. The statuettes were affixed on top of cylindrical coffers of stitched bark and were kept in the peoples houses. They should remind of the faded person and should prevent people who were not allowed, to have a look into such boxes. They presented a kind of protecting house spirit as well, they should keep away evil and bad spirits. At the moment of ritual, for example propitation or initiation, the skulls, bones and wooden statues were smeared with several different unguents with precise and secret symbolical functions.
H: 39,5 cm
H: 15.6 inch
Provenance
Michel Gaud, Saint Tropez, France
Literature
Perrois, Louis, The Art of Equatorial Guinea, The Fang tribes, New York 1990, p. 113
Price: 38000 - 60000 €
392 Mask
This object is not available any more.
Gabon, Kota
wood, blackish brown patina, camwood powder, kaolin, decorated with nails, of narrow, helmet-shaped form, crowned by a high towering forehead crest and a diadem-like disc-shaped coiffure, hollowed eye zone with half-spherical lids, the facial plane and the head dyed alternating in red and white, without mouth, dam., missing part at the lower rim, cracks (eye zone), scratches and traces of insect caused damage, on metal base
H: 49 cm
H: 19.3 inch
Provenance
Private Collection, Corsica, France
Literature
Jane and Jean David, Gabon, Zürich 2005, p. 32
Price: 4800 - 7500 €
393 Reliquary figure
This object is not available any more.
Gabon, Kota-Shamaye
wood, remains of dark brown patina, brass sheet, abstract form, an oval facial plane, tapering on top and at the bottom, dominated by an elongated, vertical nose ridge, flanked by half-spherical protruding eyes, framed by a disc-shaped flattened coiffure with plug-like projections on top and aside, entirely coated with brass sheet, fixed by nails, lamella-like arranged on both face halves, oval pierced handle, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, traces of weathering and insect caused damage on the wooden handle, on base; representing the southern style of Kota reliquaries, the type of the Shamaye. Characteristic is the tapering face, by the long vertical nose ridge nearly subdivided into two parts, and the simple coiffure. Present head sculptures were mostly made by the village blacksmiths, which explains their simple, reduced form and their liking for using metal. The reliquary figures had not only guardian function, in fact they were called upon before every important decision (oracle) and were used to repel harm as well. Sorcerers, particularly dangerous at night, were scared off by the brightness of the figures, reminding them of the return of daylight.
H: 56 cm
H: 22 inch
Provenance
Michael Werner, Cologne, Germany
Literature
Perrois, Louis, Arts du Gabon, Paris 1979, p. 156, ill. 147
Sold.
394 Reliquary guardian figure "mbulu" or "mwete"
This object is not available any more.
Gabon, Kota
wood, metal sheet and -tags, an oval hollowed face with parallel incisions, divided by a middle-strip, beneath a raised forehead ridge a triangular nose and almond-shaped eyes with circular pupils, a small incised mouth with pointed teeth underneath, crowned by a sickle-shaped coiffure and projections to the sides, the neck turning into a diamond-shaped handle, which originally was inserted into the lid of the skull receptacle, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, small missing parts, on base; the Kota people used to fix these stylized head sculptures on top of boxes containing the skulls and bones of important ancestors. They should protect the valuable contents.
H: 58 cm
H: 22.8 inch
Provenance
Private Collection, France
Literature
Perrois, Louis, Art ancestral du Gabon dans les collections du Musée Barbier-Mueller, Genf o.J., p. 76
Perrois, Louis, Arts du Gabon, Paris 1979, ill. 193
Price: 8000 - 12000 €
395 Reliquary figure "mbulu" or "mwete"
This object is not available any more.
Gabon, Mahongwe
wood, brass, metal sheet, bone, shield-shaped, with a slightly hollowed facial plane, entirely coated with metal sheet: a broad band accentuating the vertical centerline, the planes aside covered with horizontal lamellas, the facial features concentrated on a small area within the lower third: the eyes inset with bone discs, flat brass nose, plug on top of the head, neck with oval pierced base, no metal coating backside, slightly dam., missing parts at the base because of insect caused damage and weathering, cracks (backside), on metal plate; the idea of guardian figures was interpreted completely different by the Fang and their southern neighbours, the Kota. While the Fang created roundplastic, expressive and idealized figures for their ancestor reliquaries, the Kota made flat, extremely stylized, abstract head sculptures with rich metal plating. Present figure should represent a descendant, while the bigger head sculptures depict clan founders.
H: 50 cm
H: 19.7 inch
Provenance
Robert Duperrier, Paris, France (1960)
Private Collection, Germany
Literature
Kecskési, Maria, Kunst aus Afrika, Museum für Völkerkunde München, Ausst.kat, München/London/New York 1999, p. 129, ill. 120
Perrois, Louis, Art ancestral du Gabon dans les collections du Musée Barbier-Mueller, Genf o.J., p. 188 f.
Sold.
396 Mask "okuyi"
This object is not available any more.
Gabon, Punu
light brown wood, kaolin, red and black paint, of oval hollowed form, crowned by a coiffure with bulging middle lobe, flanked by flattened lobes aside, a tapering facial plane, delicate curved brows with raised bean-shaped, narrow slit eyes below, a short nose, indicated by round nostrils, a broad red mouth underneath, raised tattoos on the forehead, min. dam., cracks, paint rubbed off, small missing parts; 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 audience with wild screams.
H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch
Provenance
French Collection
Literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Afrikanische Masken aus der Sammlung Barbier-Mueller, Genf, München, New York 1997, p. 75
Sold.
397 Face mask "okuyi"
This object is not available any more.
Gabon, Punu
wood, light brown patina, kaolin, traces of black paint, of oval hollowed form, crowned by a fine grooved coiffure, forming two lobes to the back, separated from the whitened facial plane by a raised headband, narrow slit, bean-shaped eyes underneath beautifully curved brows are flanking a short, broad nose, vertical scarification mark on the forehead, dam., crack backside, abrasion, on base
H: 31 cm
H: 12.2 inch
Provenance
Rothschild Family Collection
Sotheby´s New York, Sale 1764, December 13, 2005, Lot 106
Literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Afrikanische Masken aus der Sammlung Barbier-Mueller, Genf/München/New York 1997, p. 75
Sold.
398 Mask
This object is not available any more.
Gabon, Tsogho
light wood, kaolin, black paint, of oval form with a slightly bulging forehead, narrow slit eyes flanking a triangular flattened nose, an open mouth with full lips below, the facial features accentuated by black paint, remains of raphia fibres, pierced around the rim, min. dam., insect caused damage, slight signs of abrasion, small missing parts; the Tsogho are a small ethnic group living in the central south of Gabon, north of the Punu and east of the Shira.
H: 33 cm
H: 13 inch
Provenance
Private Collection, Stuttgart, Germany
Literature
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Lexikon Afrikanische Kunst und Kultur, München/Berlin 1994, p. 369
Gollnhofer, Otto, Art e Artisanat Tsogho, Paris 1975, ill. 193
Sold.
399 Magical figure "nkisi"
D. R. Congo, Bakongo
wood, remains of polychrome paint, rising from a circular base, a small bottle between the feet, the lower part of the body dressed with a fibre skirt, the upper part of the body showing remains of a package filled with magical mass, the right arm stretched out, the left one akimbo, surmounted by an oval head with accentuated eyes and simplified facial features, min. dam., signs of abrasion, missing parts (headgear), cracks
H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch
Price: 800 - 1200 €
400 Figurally carved tusk
D. R. Kongo, Bakongo, Loango
ivory, completley decorated with human figures arranged in horizontal rows, min. dam., cracks, small missing part (tip); such tusks feature commonplace scenes of contemporary life, especially commercial transactions between whites and blacks. The scenes are separate vignettes and not meant to be read as a continous story line. The spiral band acts as a ground line for the procession of figures seen in profile. This spiraling pattern has a long history in the Kongo region and could allude to the path that the people believe the dead follow from earth to the ancestral realm and back again to be reborn.
L: 24,5 cm
L: 9.6 inch
Literature
Ross, Doran H. (ed.), Elephant, The Animal and its Ivory in African Culture, Los Angeles 1992, p. 36
Lips, Julius, Der Weisse im Spiegel der Farbigen, Leipzig 1983, ill 83
Price: 650 - 1000 €
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