Online catalogue for the 60th tribal art auction
461 Ceremonial staff
This object is not available any more.
South Africa, Nguni
wood, shiny brown patina, blackened in parts, round staff, carved with a winding snake, crowned by a human head, the eyes inset with red beads, parallel sacrification marks in the area of the temples, min. dam., missing part (right eye), cracks, on metal base
H: 99, 5 cm
H: 99, 2 inch
Provenance
British Collection
Literature
Conru, Kevin (ed.), The Art of Southeast Africa, Mailand 2002, p. 98
Sold.
462 Neck rest in animal form (cattle)
This object is not available any more.
South Africa, Nguni
wood, small residues of dark brown patina, red glass beads (eyes), four conical-shaped legs supporting a slightly vaulted pillow with stylized head and tail, the body marked by a tapering abdomen with incised triangular ornaments and small diamond-shaped opening, slightly dam., scratches, paint rubbed off, small cavity (left foreleg); the neck rest belonged to Wilhelm Pohlig, a Sanitary Sergeant serving in the Guardian Forces of General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck in German East Africa. Wilhelm Pohligs son, Helmut, was six years old, when the colony collapsed after several years of grim resistance. He and his mother were the last citizens of the empire who left the colony. The death of his father, who died of a severe malaria attack in a British Military Hospital, prevented them to leave the country in time. Just on personal intervention of General Lettow-Vorbeck a last ship was allowed to land and embark Helmut and his mother in the harbour of Daressalam. The neckrests served as pillows and should preserve the elaborate and artificial coiffures by night. Furtheron they identified their owners concerning rank and membership to a certain clan.
L: 36 cm; H: 17 cm
L: 14.2 inch; H: 6.7 inch
Provenance
Coll. Wilhelm Pohlig, Daressalam, Tanzania
Coll. Helmut Pohlig, Bielefeld, Germany
Published in
Tageszeitung Westfalen-Blatt, Nr. 208, Sonnabend, 7. September 1968
Literature
Conru, Kevin (ed.), The Art of Southeast Africa, Mailand 2002, ill. 82
Nettleton, Anitra, African Dream Machines, Styles, Identity and Meaning of African Headrests, Johannesburg 2007, p. 336, ill. 424
Price: 30000 - 60000 €
463 Receptacle
This object is not available any more.
South Africa, Nguni
wood, shiny, dark brown patina, bulbous receptacle with high rim, resting on a stand in form of a human foot, dam., missing parts through insect caused damage (foot), slight signs of abrasion, on wooden base; carved vessels were generally used by southern African peoples for milking and as mortars for pounding maize or sorghum.
H: 67,5 cm
H: 26.6 inch
Provenance
Michel Gaud, Saint Tropez, France
Price: 7500 - 15000 €
464 Hatchet
South Africa, Zulu
wood, brown shiny patina, brass wire, round shaft with a knob-shaped ending, iron blade, min. dam., slight signs of usage and corrosion; the special feature of Zulu axes lies in the brass wire windings on the handles. Although formerly used as war hatchets, they are used today by the peace-loving Zulus at dance festivals.
H: 59 cm, 19th century
H: 23.2 inch, 19th century
Provenance
Old Colonial Collection
Literature
Fischer, Werner, Zirngibl, Manfred A., Afrikanische Waffen, Passau 1978, p. 198, ill. 364
Price: 600 - 1500 €
465 Neckrest
This object is not available any more.
Zimbabwe, Shona
wood, shiny, dark brown patina, oval constricted base, elaborate carved support with zig-zagged, circle- and rhomb-shaped carvings in relief, supporting a hollowed pillow with incised zig-zag and triangular ornaments, min. best.; the Shona and related Tsonga-speaking groups created some classic forms of African neckrests, which can be identified at once, though they can not be attributed exactly. The patina is the natural result of polished wood saturated with hair oil.
H: 13 cm; L: 16 cm
H: 5.1 inch; L: 6.3 inch
Provenance
Coll. Michael Grabanier, San Francisco, USA
Literature
Ginzberg, Marc, Afrikanische Formen, Mailand 2001, p. 42
Dewey, William J., Sleeping Beauties, Los Angeles 1993, p. 113, ill. 20
Sold.
466 Neckrest
This object is not available any more.
Zimbabwe, Shona
wood, shiny brown patina, oval vaulted base, carved with three struts supporting a pillow with the endings curved slightly upwards, two small projections on the underside, min. dam., fissures
H: 13,5 cm; L:13 cm
H: 5.3 inch; L:5.1 inch
Provenance
Pierre Loos, Brussels, Belgium
Literature
Dewey, William J., Sleeping Beauties, Los Angeles 1993, p. 142, ill. 111
Price: 800 - 1500 €
467 Knife
This object is not available any more.
Zimbabwe, Shona
wood, metal, pointed blade with raised middle ridge, the wooden sheath and handle covered with elaborate wire netting, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion and corrosion
L: 31 cm
L: 12.2 inch
Price: 500 - 1000 €
468 Standing figure
This object is not available any more.
Mozambique, Makonde
wood, blackish brown patina, marked by a voluminous body rising from extremely short legs, enclosed by handle-shaped arms, with both hands holding a bar-like object in front of the body, a massive neck supporting a big head with diamond-shaped flattened lips and linear incised scarification marks, slightly dam., minor missing parts (heel of the left foot), paint rubbed off, on metal plate; most of the free standing traditional figures of the Makonde are kept in museums, at which most of them are female, males are quite rare. The face of present figure extremely reminding of the Makonde helmet masks.
H: 35,5 cm
H: 14 inch
Provenance
Maria Wyss, Basel, Switzerland
Literature
Art Makondé, Tradition et modernité, Malesherbes 1989, p. 99
Sold.
469 Helmet mask "lipiko"
Mozambique, Makonde
light-weighted wood, mat black patina, white paint, real hair, nearly naturalistic features, vaulted lids with painted pupils flanking a flat nose with a diamond-shaped mouth underneath, min. dam., fissures, small missing parts, slight signs of abrasion, on metal base; "lipiko" masks appeared at initiation celebrations. They were worn by the young initiates "vaali" at the "mapiko" masquerade. They depict woman rather than men and were kept in special sacred mask houses outside the village. Women were not allowed to see them.
H: 27 cm
H: 10.6 inch
Literature
Fenzl, Kristian, Makonde, Linz 1997, p. 52, ill. 75 f.
Price: 1000 - 2000 €
470 Monkey mask
This object is not available any more.
Mozambique, Makua
wood, blackish brown and light brown encrusted patina, of narrow form with bulging forehead and extended snout, small half-circular eyes, an open, teeth revealing mouth, slightly dam. (left ear), crack and small missing part (chin area) backside at the rim, small traces of insect caused damage, on metal base
H: 19,5 cm
H: 7.7 inch
Sold.
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