Online catalogue for the 60th tribal art auction

211 Standing female figure

This object is not available any more.

Tiv, Nigeria

wood, reddish brown patina, a compact body, flanked by short arms, dominated by a proportionally big head with real hair and deepened eyes with painted pupils, dam. (nose, mouth), missing parts (left ear, lower arm and foot tip on the right), abrasion and crack backside, on block-like base; most female figures, called "atsuku", are used in hunting rites and in conjunction with circumcision. Evidently there is also a symbolic relationship to manhood and virility. Possibly it is in that context that female figures are placed next to the door of an intended bride.

H: 18 cm, (5077/003)
H: 7.1 inch

Literature
Wittmer, Marcilene K., Arnett, William, Three Rivers of Nigeria, Atlanta 1978, p. 96
Neyt, Francois, The Arts of the Benue, Belgien 1985, p. 191

Price: 1000 - 2000 €

212 Big male spirit figure "edjo"

This object is not available any more.

Urhobo, Nigeria

heavy wood, black patina, whitened with kaolin, on fragmentary post, massive body, reduced to geometrical forms, dominated by a large head with the typical projecting mouth situated at the tip of the chin, crowned by a flat disc-shaped hat, raised scarification marks, dam., cracks (hat, right face half, back), breakage at the base fixed with metal clamps, paint rubbed off; figures of this type represent spirits of mythical warriors considered founders of Urhobo villages. "Edjo" statues are dramatically displayed, often in large groups, in village shrines where they receive offerings as appeasements for the spirits.

H: 103 cm, (5098/001)
H: 40.6 inch

Provenance
Coll. Robert Terwindt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Literature
Wittmer, Marcilene K., Arnett, William, Three Rivers of Nigeria, Atlanta 1978, ill. 96

Sold for: 5300 €

213 Shrine figure of the "eshu ogo elegba"

This object is not available any more.

Yoruba, Nigeria

wood, black patina, small residues of indigo blue pigment, as customary the figure is depicted with full clothing (shorts and tunic) and with the typical phallic lobe, the "eshu" staff and the shield refer to his prestigious position, the figure is dominated by a large head with a fine grooved beard and big vaulted eyes, the face is coated with fine linear scarification marks, slightly dam., hairline cracks (face), minor missing parts through insect caused damage (coiffure, shield, rim of the tunic and shorts), on metal plate; the shrine-figures of "eshu" were kept wrapped up in fabric. They were brought out only once a year at the "eshu" celebration for animal sacrifice. The male deity "eshu" plays an important role in Yoruba religion. No sacrifice could ever be made without presenting a gift to "eshu" at first, for he was looked upon as the mediator between deities and humans. An accumulation of earth aside the house entrance, doused with palmoil, "eshus" preferred sacrificial offering, represented the deity. He should ward off evil and bad spirits.

H: 42,5 cm, (5094/023)
H: 16.7 inch

Provenance
Manfred Schäfer, Ulm, Germany

Literature
Eisenhofer, Stefan (Hg.), Kulte, Künstler, Könige in Afrika - Tradition und Moderne in Südnigeria, Linz 1997, p. 275

Sold for: 3800 €

214 Shrine figure of a sitting deity

This object is not available any more.

Yoruba, Nigeria

wood, blackish brown patina, strings with bar-shaped glass beads, arranged frontal with symmetrical limbs, as a sign of dignity provided with full clothing and fly whisk, crowned by a phallic lobe, accentuated with spherical bulges, pupils with drilled holes, incised scarification marks on the cheeks, slightly dam., crack (head, left hand side), place of repair (left wrist and knee), missing parts (left hand, base below); embodiment of the "pox god". The phallic lobe, as well as fly whisk and clothing might as well be a hint on Eshu. Eshu is the mediator between the world of the spirits and the mortal. Its up to him to forward the sacrifices of man to the gods and witches and even to death.

H: 29,5 cm, (5103/008)
H: 11.6 inch

Provenance
Gert Stoll, Berchtesgaden, Germany

Price: 6000 - 12000 €

215 Altar figure

This object is not available any more.

Yoruba, Nigeria

wood, spotty brown patina, remains of paint, kaolin, in shape of a sitting female, provided with tribe-typical scarification marks and elaborate high-crested coiffure, surrounded by four smaller figures, dam., cracks, small missing parts; altar figures are no representations of the deities themselves, but can be seen as embodiments of the worshippers or priests. The figures were created to point out the solemnity of the sacrifices as well as the requests of the worshippers.

H: 65 cm, (5092/002)
H: 25.6 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, Stuttgart, Germany

Literature
Eisenhofer, Stefan (Hg.), Kulte, Künstler, Könige in Afrika - Tradition und Moderne in Südnigeria, Linz 1997, p. 309 ff.

Sold for: 2500 €

216 Janus-headed headdress

add to watchlist

Yoruba, Nigeria, Area of Ijebu

wood, middle brown patina, encrusted in some areas, black paint, funnel-shaped base with wickerwork at the lower rim, nearly identical carved narrow, elongated heads with horns, extremely slanting eyes with mirror glass inlay, diamond-shaped mouth, dam., crack (between the heads), traces of insect caused damage (forehead and cheek on one side), place of repair (horn), paint rubbed off; the Ijebu Yoruba live near the coast, and their land is filled with numerous lagoons and rivers. It was the proximity and importance of water that led to the introduction of a cult known as "ekine", which is devoted to water spirits. There are three main water spirits, "igodo", the bird - "agira", the antelope - and "oni", the crocodile. "Okooro", represented by a human headdress, seems to act as intermediary. The present type presumably a mixture of "okooro" and "agira".

H: 55,5 cm, (5091/017)
H: 21.9 inch

Literature
Poynor, Robin, Spirit Eyes Human Hands, African Art at the Harn Museum, o.O. 1995, p. 82 f.

Price: 1000 - 2000 €

217 Small figure

This object is not available any more.

Yoruba, Nigeria

wood, partly encrusted, dark brown patina, remains of kaolin, sitting on a stool, with the right hand holding a calabash and with the left a tobacco pipe, crowned by an oval head with elaborate headgear, dam., small missing parts through insect caused damage

H: 16 cm, (5085/001)
H: 6.3 inch

Price: 500 - 1000 €

218 Equestrian figure

This object is not available any more.

Yoruba, Nigeria

wood, dark brown patina, encrusted in some areas, animal with barrel-shaped trunk, with short and thin legs rising from a narrow base, supporting a figure with elongated upper part of the body, dominated by a bowl-shaped head with a clearly defined, elaborately ornamented coiffure, neck and upper arms carved with rings, triangular amulets on breast and back, slightly dam., crack (right side of the body), traces of old insect caused damage (leg right hand side, base)

H: 35,5 cm, (4877/002)
H: 14 inch

Provenance
Joseph Christiaens, Brussels, Belgium

Sold for: 800 €

219 Mask "gelede"

This object is not available any more.

Yoruba, Nigeria

wood, once polychrome painted (min. residues of light-blue and red pigment visible underneath a layer of blackish brown paint), helmet-shaped, dam., cracks, missing parts (left ear, head on the right), on metal base; in contrast to Yoruba societies attended to the worshipping of ancestors, the "gelede" society is concentrated on powers manifest in the world of the living ("aye"), and associated in particular with women. The most important protective deity of "gelede" is "yemoja" or "yemania", the goddess of the rivers and of the sea, who is synonymous with "iyanla", the "Big Mother".

H: 33 cm, (5091/010)
H: 13 inch

Literature
Drewal, Henry John, Thompson Drewal, Margaret, Gelede - Art and Female Power among the Yoruba, Bloomington 1983, p. 152 f.
Eisenhofer, Stefan (Hg.), Kulte, Künstler, Könige in Afrika - Tradition und Moderne in Südnigeria, Linz 1997, p. 179 f.

Sold for: 500 €

220 Mask "gelede"

add to watchlist

Yoruba, Nigeria, Area of Abeokuta

wood, dark brown patina, vaulted base with a wide facial plane, the facial features concentrated on a rather small area, incised lancet-shaped scarification marks on cheeks and forehead, crowned by a head crest in openwork-design, consisting of snakes, slightly dam., on metal base

H: 31,5 cm, (4877/003)
H: 12.4 inch

Provenance
Joseph Christiaens, Brussels, Belgium

Price: 1200 - 2400 €