Online catalogue for the 59th tribal art auction

454 Male twin figure "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Ogbomosho

wood, reddish brown, matt and shiny patina, almost without legs rising from a round base, free carved arms flanking the slender, waisted trunk, both hands amalgamated with the broad hips, crowned by a big head with a two-lobed coiffure, the pupils pierced, the original inserted tags missing, noticable the filed teeth, the facial scarifications are "oyo" marks from the "abaja" type in sets of four, strings of glass beads, slightly dam., crack in front of the body

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Provenance
Mareidi Singer, Munich, Germany (~1990)
Ernst-Olof Siré, Forchheim, Germany

Literature
Für vergleichbare Figur siehe: Mareidi und Gert Stoll, Ibeji, München 1980, p. 268, ill 157 und
Jantzen, Hanni, Doppel-Leben - Ibeji-Zwillingsfiguren, Ausst.kat., München 1993, ill. 31-32

Sold.

455 Male twin figure "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Ifon

wood, reddish brown shiny patina with black paint, encrusted with camwood powder "osun", rising from a massive oval base, sloping shoulders with both hands resting aside the upper legs, the head widely projecting to the front, showing round contours, the big diamond-shaped eyes with pierced pupils framed by eyelashes, crowned by a bonnet-shaped coiffure with tapering side flaps, string with shell discs around the neck, strings with beads around hips and ankles, slightly dam., cracks, minor missing parts (eyes, mouth, coiffure, thumb of the left hand); the imagery of the colour white: for the highest "orisha obatala", the creator of manhood.

H: 27,5 cm
H: 10.8 inch

Provenance
Ketterer München, Tribal Arts 133, 10. Dezember 1988, lot 26
Ernst-Olof Siré, Forchheim, Germany

Literature
Für vergleichbare Figuren, siehe: Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, p. 227, ill. 119 &
Jantzen, Hanni, Doppel-Leben - Ibeji-Zwillingsfiguren, Ausst.kat., München 1993, ill. 46

Sold.

456 Female twin figure "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Egba

wood, matt and shiny patina, traces of camwood powder "osun", well-proportioned and well-balanced forms of the body, with straddled legs rising from a circular base, round shoulders and handle-shaped arranged arms harmonical closing the contours, crowned by a projecting head with multi-lobed coiffure, a beautiful modelled face with soft, rounded features, pierced pupils (the originally inserted metal tags missing), the facial scarifications are "oyo" marks from the "keke" or "gombo" type, the usual "ibeji" ornament, like beaded strings now missing, slightly dam., traces of insect caused damage (base, left foot, both hands, coiffure ears), the facial features strongly abraded

H: 23 cm, ~ last quarter of the 19th Century
H: 9.1 inch, ~ last quarter of the 19th Century

Provenance
Ernst-Olof Siré, Forchheim, Germany

Literature
Für vergleichbare Figur, siehe: Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, ill. 27 (the figure in the middle) and ill. 31

Sold.

457 Female twin figure "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Igbomina

wood, reddish and blackish brown patina, encrusted with camwood powder "osun", with slender body rising from a round base, the arms arranged handle-shaped with both hands resting on the bulging abdomen, crowned by a narrow head with a high towering, pierced coiffure of strut-like lobes, converging on top, big bulging eyes, two strings of glass beads and coconut discs around the hips, brass rings, incised tattoos on both sides of the mouth, the facial features abraded, native restoration at the left head side

H: 26,5 cm
H: 10.4 inch

Provenance
Coll. Gert Stoll, Berchtesgaden, Germany
Ernst-Olof Siré, Forchheim, Germany

Sold.

458 Prestige drinking horn

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields

horn, brown patina, the upper third decorated with floral and figural motifs carved in relief, min. dam., slight signs of usage; in all Grassfield kingdoms, drinking horns, plain or ornate, are a man's most important personal article, a reference to the significance of palm wine for shared sociability and pleasure and as a sacrificial libation substance.

L: 18,5 cm
L: 7.3 inch

Literature
Northern, Tamara, Expressions of Cameroon art, The Franklin Collection, 1986, p. 35, ill. 22 f.

Sold.

459 Standing zoomorphic figure

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields, Bafo

light brown wood, mat, brown patina, carved with a kind of skirt, the forearms angled in front of the chest, surmounted by a rabbit-like head with circular eyes and pierced pupils, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, slight signs of abrasion, rep. (foot tips), on wooden base

H: 38 cm
H: 15 inch

Price: 500 - 1000 €

460 Male figurine "mosongo"

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields, Bafo

wood, red and blackish brown encrusted patina, unclear if the hands support a chin beard or a flute, two openings on the head, slightly dam., minor missing parts, on the right foot inside inscribed "A-62", on metal plate; "mosongo" represents a supernatural power, who is said to punish those who give false oath. If someone perjures by the name of "mosongo", the figure is said to topple or to make a striking movement, and the perjurer soon is befallen by a horrible accident.

H: 18,5 cm
H: 7.3 inch

Provenance
Coll. Karl Modéer, Stockholm, Sweden
Pace Primitive, New York, USA, No. 53-1628

Exposed in
Pace Primitive New York, Catalogue, Fall 2007

Published in
Negerkonst.Stockholm: National Museum, 1953, p. 101, cat. 368

GVR Archives Registration No.
0072690

Literature
Gardi, Bernhard, Kunst in Kamerun, Basel 1994, p. 63, ill. 59

Price: 9000 - 15000 €

461 Standing male figure "mu'po"

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields, Bamileke

wood, reddish brown patina, incrusted in some areas, camwood powder, with round thighs rising from fragmentary legs, supporting a trunk with bulging abdomen and a strong neck, the arms growing out of the back, with both hands resting in front of the breast, the head dominated by big projecting ears and a big mouth with bared teeth, a rectangular opening on the back, dam., cracks, missing parts because of insect caused damage (right side of the body and arm, upper side of the head), the surface showing traces of weathering, on metal plate; zum Werkzeug des Wahrsagers gehörend. Die Figuren werden mit Medizinmitteln eingerieben, denn nur so können sie wirksam werden. Man sagt, dass sie mit Medizin "heiß" gemacht werden. In die Höhlung am Rücken wurde Medizin eingefügt. Die Figuren werden auch bei Tänzen mitgetragen und sollen dabei die Mitglieder des "kungan"-Bundes vor Zauber schützen. Die krustige Patina weist auf Spuren von Opfergaben hin.

H: 52 cm
H: 20.5 inch

Literature
Homberger, Lorenz (Hg.), Kamerun, Kunst der Könige, Museum Rietberg, Zürich 2008, ill. 85

Price: 7500 - 15000 €

462 Small female figure

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields, Bamileke

wood, encrusted brown patina,

H: 20 cm
H: 7.9 inch

Provenance
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, Belgium

GVR Archives Registration No.
0071022

Sold.

463 Standing figure

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields, Bamileke

wood, coated with sackcloth, completely covered with cowrie snails and grey seeds of Job's-tear grass ("coix lacryma-jobi"), red and black glass beads forming the facial features, dressed with an apron, min. dam., small missing parts, slight signs of abrasion; such prestige accoutrements were displayed by royal title holders or retainers on ceremonial occasions.

H: 41 cm
H: 16.1 inch

Literature
von Lintig, Bettina, Cameroun, Galerie Dulon, Paris 2006, p. 144 f.

Price: 600 - 1500 €