Online catalogue for the 65th tribal art auction

231 Helmet mask "agbogho mmwo"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Igbo

wood, encrusted patina, polychrome paint, delicate facial features, crowned by a high towering three-parted coiffure, pierced around the rim, slight traces of abrasion; representing the "spirit of a young maiden" - "agbogho mmwo". Belonging to the men's "mmwo" society. Such masks were worn by young men on harvest festivities and at the annual ceremonies in honour of the earth spirit "ane". The dancers wore coloured tight costumes with false breasts.

H: 48 cm
H: 18.9 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, Belgium

Literature
Cole, Herbert M., Aniakor, Chike C., Igbo Arts, Los Angeles 1984, p. 120

Price: 3500 - 6000 €

232 Ritual object "ofo"

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Nigeria, Igbo

brass, partly encrusted patina, decorated with grooves and spirals, crowned by a stylized human head, four small feet on the back, min. dam., slight traces of corrosion; "ofo" objects symbolize the connection between the chief and his ancestors.

H: 19 cm
H: 7.5 inch

Provenance
Wolf, Zürich, Switzerland
Wolfgang Nerlich, Munich, Germany

Literature
Cole, Herbert M., Aniakor, Chike C., Igbo Arts, Los Angeles 1984, p. 12

Price: 400 - 800 €

233 Water spirit mask

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Ijaw

light brown wood, polychrome paint, of elongated form with pointed chin, "EG" in white pigment on the reverse, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, slight traces of abrasion, on metal base; the life of the Ijaw who live in the extreme wateriness of the Niger Delta is closely connected to water, which is why their headdresses depict aquatic beings instead of bush spirits. These masks were worn horizontal, because the water spirits have their face in one level with the surface of the water as well.

H: 38 cm
H: 15 inch

Provenance
George Oltay, Johannesburg, South Africa
Egon Günther, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sotheby's New York, 18. November 2000, lot 87

Exposed in
African Art, South African Collections, The Fifteenth Transvaal Academy, Johannesburg 1969 & Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria 1970

Published in
Werth, Art of Africa, African Art from South African Collections, 1970, p. 171

Literature
Anderson, Martha G., Ways of the Rivers, Los Angeles 2002, p. 143

Sold.

234 Elephant mask "ogbodo enyi"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Izzi

wood, polychrome paint, a stylized elephant head with a triangular protruding snout with tusks, an anthropomorphic mask face at the back of the head, completely coated with geometrical patterns in black, white and orange paint, pierced around the rim, rep. (left eye), min. dam., cracks, traces of abrasion, on metal base; this mask was worn horizontally on top of the head, the holes at the lower rim served for attachment of raphia fibres covering the head of the dancer, who was wearing a long costume made of plaited plant fibres.

H: 45,5 cm
H: 17.9 inch

Provenance
Coll. John Haley, Berkeley, USA

Literature
Masques "Elephant" Igbo, Nigeria, Paris 1980, ill. 1

Sold.

235 Standing male figure

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Jukun

wood, blackish brown patina, compact body of closed contours, a proportionally small round head with disc-shaped ears, dam., missing parts (right foot tip), crack, paint rubbed off, on base; Jukun figures are used in rain and harvest ceremonies. The vicinity and influence of the Mumuye is stilistically obvious.

H: 30,5 cm
H: 12 inch

Price: 500 - 1000 €

236 Figural drinking receptacle for palm wine "gbene"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Koro

light brown patina, partly encrusted dark brown patina, in shape of a stylized standing figure, the trunk in shape of a deeply hollowed oval receptacle, flat back side, rep., min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, minor mising parts; the Koro are a small Kwa-speaking ethnical group of 20000 people settling in the north-west of the Afo.

H: 46 cm
H: 18.1 inch

Provenance
Coll. Dr. Christian Humburg, Mainz, Germany
Coll. Manfred Magin, Hemsbach, Germany

Published in
Mensch, Bernhard (Hg.), Welt der Gefäße, Oberhausen 2004, p. 13

Literature
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, München 2009, p. 307

Price: 7500 - 15000 €

237 Buffalo mask

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Mama

wood, encrusted reddish brown patina, of stylized form, a raised forehead ridge flanked by strong curved horns, septum pierced with a stick, an open mouth below, rep. (stick), slight traces of abrasion; the Mama use wooden dance crests carved as stylized bushcows or antelopes in the "mangam" masquerade, when they enlisted the aid of the ancestral spirits to ensure a successful harvest. The dancers wear these masks, while their whole body is covered by a garment made of grass.

H: 38 cm
H: 15 inch

Provenance
Galerie Inge Hett, Berlin, Germany

Price: 850 - 1700 €

238 Standing male figure

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Montol

wood, partly shiny greyish brown patina, schematized body, facial features with circular eyes and cheek scarifications, min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base

H: 31 cm
H: 12.2 inch

Provenance
Patrick Fröhlich, Zurich, Switzerland
Joseph Christiaens, Brussels, Belgium
Belgian Collection

Price: 850 - 1700 €

239 dropped

This object is not available any more.

240 Standing female figure

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Montol

wood, matt encrusted patina, remains of pigments, showing schematized body and facial features, forehead crest, min. dam., on base

H: 55,5 cm
H: 21.9 inch

Provenance
Michel van den Dries, Gavere, Belgium
Belgian Collection

Literature
Wittmer, Marcilene K., Arnett, William, Three Rivers of Nigeria, Atlanta 1978, p. 97

Price: 2500 - 5000 €