Online catalogue for the 66th tribal art auction

31 Women's spiked bangles "khap"

This object is not available any more.

India, Naga

2 pieces, copper alloy (?), decorated with a single row of cones, which provide the bracelets with a thorny aspect, blotched blackish brown patina; spiked bangles were widespread among the Ao, Chang, Konyak, Khiamniungan and Yimchungru Naga and were considered very valuable. They formed a main part of the family heirloom. They were probably imported from Burma. Due to the light weight of the fusion the cones are often filled with a resinous substance or wax to increase their consistance.

D: 6,5 cm
D: 2.6 inch

Literature
Kunz, Richard, Naga, Basel 2008, ill. 288
Somaré Grata, Vigorelli, Leonardo, The Nagas, Bergamo 1992, p. 126

Price: 600 - 1000 €

32 Bird Face Goddess

This object is not available any more.

North - Syria

light beige terracotta, a flat, schematized lower part of the body, surmounted by a bird-like head with drilled pupils and a headgear projecting to the back, min. dam, rep. (neck), minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion

H: 21 cm
H: 8.3 inch

Provenance
Coll. Ralf Schulte-Bahrenberg, Duisburg, Germany

Sold.

33 Face mask "joker"

This object is not available any more.

Bhutan

wood, reddish brown patina, red and black paint, anthropomorphic facial features with naturalistic appeal, mixed with ornamental elements (laugh lines, ears, hairline), cord at the chin, presumably for fixing the mask with the mouth, dots with blackish mass on forehead and chin, slightly dam., crack, mounted on base; in Himalayan masking tradition a multitude of clowns and baffoons is always found in addition to subjects from the conventional pantheon. These masks teach as well as make the audience laugh by practicing a type of self-criticism, causing those who watch to reflect upon their own lives.

H: 24 cm
H: 9.4 inch

Provenance
Pace Gallery, New York, USA (Inventory No. 61-0088)

Literature
Chazot, Eric, Masks of the Himalayas, New York 1990, p. 18

Sold.

34 Worling knife "sisavavuavua tjakit"

This object is not available any more.

Taiwan, Paiwan

wood, remains of pigments, metal, wooden sheath, one side carved with snake motifs, the reverse side covered with metal sheet, punched wih human heads, wooden handle in form of a stylized human figure, min. dam., traces of usage and corrosion

L: 53 cm
L: 20.9 inch

Literature
Paiwan, Wien 1991, p. 63, ill. S-10.4

Sold.

35 8 artefacts from an expedition to the pacific island world

This object is not available any more.

Oceania

three objects from Luzon, Philippines: a flat bowl of light-weighted wood, d: 19 cm, with traces of usage and a small crack; calabash, pumpkin, rattan and cord material for support, h: 16 cm; flat lancet-shaped pillow of a neckrest, carved with crocodile heads on either end, wood, blackish brown patina, b: 30 cm, dam., rep.; additional: 4 bracelets from the Admirality Islands, Papua New Guinea, from orchid stems in yellow and brown, d: 7,5 - 12 cm, one of them torn; arrow, Asmat, Papua New Guinea, wood, l: 52 cm, with magical package (mass and feathers), abrus seeds, red and white earth pigment

Provenance
Prof. Wolfgang Panzer, Heidelberg/Mainz, Germany, collected in situ, 1931
Coll. Prof. Georg Elwert, Berlin, Germany (1993)

Price: 400 - 800 €

36 Lime container, painting stick and shell money "diwarra"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea

pumpkin, filled with lime, resp. kaolin, dam. in two places; a thin painting stick with grooved pattern and needle eye; additional: nassa snails ("nassarius camelus"), thread on rotan (about 21 pieces)

L: 40 cm und 51 cm
L: 15.7 inch und 20.1 inch

Provenance
Prof. Wolfgang Panzer, Heidelberg/Mainz, Germany, collected in situ, 1931
Coll. Prof. Georg Elwert, Berlin, Germany (1993)

Sold.

37 Yams mask

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Abelam

wood, red and yellow ochre, black and white pigment, of oval hollowed form, brows and nose forming a T-shaped zone, flat diadem-like head crest and beard, collection number, slightly dam., minor missing parts, on metal base; the mask-like carving represents a clan spirit. It was not worn like a mask but attached to the facade of a ritual house instead.

H: 33 cm, ca. 1940/50's
H: 13 inch, ca. 1940/50's

Provenance
Greg Hamson, Palos Verdes, California, USA

Literature
Lippisches Landesmuseum Detmold (Hg.), Abelam, Detmold 1989, ill. 44

Sold.

38 Shield "yamase"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat

mangrove wood, red, white and black pigment, decorated with stylized figures (crocodile ?) and geometrical ornaments with raised contours, handle backside, dam., cracks (above all on the upper rim), water spots, traces of old age

H: 152 cm
H: 59.8 inch

Provenance
Henk Kouw, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Literature
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Berlin 1996, p. 255

Price: 3000 - 6000 €

39 War shield

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat, Momogo Village, Upper Pomatsj River

mangrove wood, brown patina, red and white pigment, decorated with emblematic designs which probably relate to head-hunting, these include three large stylized flying foxes, accentuated by raised contours, pierced rim for tufts of sago leaf strips, carved handle backside, slightly dam., missing parts at the rim, cracks

H: 104,5 cm
H: 41.1 inch

Provenance
Dutch private collection, in situ 1961

Literature
Smidt, Dirk, Asmat Art, Leiden 1993, p. 58

Price: 3000 - 6000 €

40 War shield "yemes"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, North-west Asmat

mangrove, painted with red and white pigment, expressive decor in relief: the top with "ray" motive, the body with "flying fox" and shell nose ornament "bipane", triangular drillings around the rim for tassels of plant fibre (just a few of them left), faded painting and handle backside, good condition; aside of their protective function the shields have magical attributes, which elevate them to the rank of a ceremonial object: they remind of a venerated ancestor and carry various emblems related to head hunting, such as "flying fox" and "bipane" motif. Thus they should enhance boldness, bellicosity and martial luck of their owner.

H: 154 cm
H: 60.6 inch

Provenance
Jan Visser, Brussels, Belgium (1968)

Literature
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Berlin 1996, p. 143, ill. 9.9

Price: 6000 - 12000 €