Online catalogue for the 63rd tribal art auction with special part 'wunderkammer'

301 Miniature masks "ma go"

This object is not available any more.

Ivory Coast, Dan

4 pieces, wood, partly encrusted, matt patina, of oval form with pointed chin, three of them showing incised scarification marks, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion; miniature masks represent the big mask figures. They are taken along on travels in order to keep in contact with the mask spirit.

H: 7,5 cm - 9 cm, coll. in Abidjan, 1967 (8,5 cm)
H: 3 inch - 3.5 inch, coll. in Abidjan, 1967 (3.3 inch)

Provenance
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Literature
Tagliaferri, Aldo, Miniature masks from West Africa, Mailand 1997, p. 25

Price: 400 - 800 €

302 Two masks

This object is not available any more.

Ivory Coast, Bete

wood, dark brown patina, stripes of animal skin and pelt, the faces of both masks consisting of geometrical forms projecting from a plane background, the eyes tubular or castagnet-shaped, tusk- and clamp-like projections superimposed, beak like snouts, in order to enhance the frightening effect stud with metal tags and stripes of animal skin and fur, dam., missing parts, paint rubbed off

H: 23 und 26 cm, coll. in Abidjan, 1967 resp. 1973
H: 23 und 10.2 inch, coll. in Abidjan, 1967 resp. 1973

Provenance
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Sold.

303 Maske "kpelié"

This object is not available any more.

Ivory Coast, Senufo

light brown wood, dark and middle brown patina, of narrow hollowed form, crowned by a kalao bird, ornamental projections aside and next to the chin, min. dam., pierced around the rim, slight traces of abrasion

H: 36 cm, coll. in Dakar, 1963
H: 14.2 inch, coll. in Dakar, 1963

Provenance
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Literature
Burkhard, Gottschalk, Senufo - Unbekannte Schätze aus privaten Sammlungen, Düsseldorf 2009, p. 142 f.

Sold.

304 Standing figure

This object is not available any more.

Ivory Coast, Kulango

wood, partly encrusted shiny patina, adorned with several glass bead necklaces with cowrie snails attached, simplified, abraded facial features, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage (feet), fissures, on wooden base; the small ethnical group of the Kulango belongs to the Volta people, living on the northeastern Ivory coast, south of the Lobi, east of the Jimini and north of the Agni and Abron. Their geographical position is reflected in their works of art. Characteristic for the Kulango is the accentuation of the mostly blackened objects with white or blue pigment.

H: 30,5 cm
H: 12 inch

Provenance
Maurice Ratton, Paris, France
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Sold.

305 Sitting female figure

This object is not available any more.

Ivory Coast, Senufo

wood, partly encrusted blackish brown patina, rising from a stool, showing tribe-typical adornment (armrings), facial features, scarification marks and coiffure, dam., cracks, missing parts through insect caused damage (coiffure); probably a "tugubele" figure. "Tugubele" are creatures of the wild. They are said to be good friends with humans and animals as well and act as an intermediate between them. When a tree has to be cut down their living space is violated and they require sacrifices in return. They want their existence to be accepted. Therefore two figures have to be carved, because like humans they live in a community, they are dwarf-like small and of human shape.

H: 39,5 cm
H: 15.6 inch

Provenance
Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1963)
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Literature
Burkhard, Gottschalk, Senufo - Unbekannte Schätze aus privaten Sammlungen, Düsseldorf 2009, p. 50

Sold.

306 Goldweights

This object is not available any more.

Ghana

brass, 14 pieces, different forms (catfish, sword, axe, stool, scorpion et. al.) and a little box for gold dust, min. dam., slight traces of corrosion; until the beginning of the last century gold dust was the most common currency of the country. At every buying or disposal the gold dust had to be weighted, for this purpose natural weights like seeds, shells or bones were used, as well as metal weights, nowadays called gold weights.

L: 1,5 cm - 7,5 cm
L: 0.6 inch - 3 inch

Provenance
Maurice Ratton, Paris, France, 1663 (scorpion)
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Sold.

307 Fertility doll "akua ba"

This object is not available any more.

Ghana, Ashanti

wood, black patina, encrusted in some areas, strings with miniature glass beads, of typical form with abstract body and disc-shaped flattened head, the reduced facial features arranged within the lower half of the face, the neck carved with rings, drilled holes, slightly dam., minor missing parts, paint rubbed off, on marble base

H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch

Provenance
Serge Diakonoff, Geneva, Switzerland, 1965
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Sold.

308 Stool

This object is not available any more.

Ghana, Ashanti

wood, middle brown patina, four board-shaped struts with a round one in the centre, supporting a slightly curved seat, min. dam., cracks, minor missing parts, traces of usage; the symbolic message carved into the pedestal of the stool represents the owner's prestige and authority in the community. There are stools for every status: common ones for the ordinary man or woman, the more elaborate for the king (decorated in gold) or Queen mother (decorated in silver).

H: 24,5 cm; L: 39,5 cm, coll. in Abadjan, 1968
H: 9.6 inch; L: 15.6 inch, coll. in Abadjan, 1968

Provenance
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Literature
Bocola, Sandro (Hg.), Afrikanische Sitze, München, New York 1994, p. 79

Price: 400 - 800 €

309 Container "forowa"

This object is not available any more.

Ghana, Ashanti

brass sheet, two-parted, round form with vaulted lid, on ring-shaped base with a smaller container inside, the outside coated with incised and embossed decor, four cartouches with animal motifs (scorpion, quadruped), birds and fishes on the lid, slightly dam., minor missing parts; generally used for storing and heating sheabutter, sometimes for keeping gold dust as well.

H: 24 cm
H: 9.4 inch

Provenance
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Price: 300 - 600 €

310 Two female and a male twin figure "venavi"

This object is not available any more.

Togo, Ewe

wood, light brown patina, schematized, symmetrical arranged bodies, the two female figures wearing capes, feet and coiffure painted in black, interesting detail: a shoe of animal skin on the left foot of the smallest figure, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, acrylic bases; alike the "ibeji" figures of the Yoruba, the "venavi" figures were carved for deceased twins or triplets. They serve as abode for the spirit of the deceased. The Ewe women used to care for them, they were feeded, washed and caressed. For the Ewe venerate twins and look upon them as connection to the otherworld.

H: 18,5 cm, 21 cm, 23,5 cm, coll. in situ, 1978 (male one)
H: 7.3 inch, 8.3 inch, 9.3 inch, coll. in situ, 1978 (male one)

Provenance
Coll. Heinz Seeliger, Würzburg, Germany

Sold.