Online catalogue for the 66th tribal art auction

361 Ritual staff "ogboni"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba

brass, thin round staff, crowned by an anthropomorphic head with "oshugbo" crescents on the forehead, to the front decorated with two further mask faces with "rabbit ears", min. dam., crack

H: 26 cm
H: 10.2 inch

Provenance
Helmut Zake, Heidelberg, Germany

Sold.

362 Drum

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba

light brown wood, matt dark brown patina, an antelope (?) rising from a round base, supporting the actual drum corpus on its back, the long curved horns reaching down to the base, drum skin missing, dam., cracks, minor missing parts through insect caused damage, traces of abrasion

H: 48 cm
H: 18.9 inch

Price: 300 - 600 €

363 Axe "aringo jagun"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba

wood, encrusted dark brown patina, iron, round handle, carved with a standing figure, holding a flute-like item in front of the body, crowned by a further head, the iron blade attached on the rear, min. dam., cracks, traces of abrasion and corrosion, on base; possibly carved by Roti, Chief Agbana of Osi. Ceremonial axes are dedicated to "ogun", the deity of iron and war, sometimes to "shango", the god of thunder.

H: 53 cm
H: 20.9 inch

Literature
Fagg, William, Yoruba, Sculpture of West Africa, New York 1982, p. 112 f.

Price: 1400 - 2800 €

364 Bellow

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba

wood, reddish brown patina, two air pipes, a metal cuff at the base, in flat relief carved with a pair of figures engaged with pounding millet or corn, slightly dam., minor missing parts, traces of insect caused damage, on block-like base

H: 29 cm
H: 11.4 inch

Provenance
Dr. Karl-Ferdinand Schädler, Munich, Germany

Price: 2000 - 4000 €

365 Dignitary staff

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba

wood, entirely coated with polychrome glass beads, arranged in geometrical patterns, on top and in the middle carved with an anthropomorphic face, slightly dam.

H: 68,5 cm
H: 27 inch

Provenance
Alfred L. Scheinberg, New York, USA

Price: 1500 - 3000 €

366 House post "opo ogboni"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba

wood, matt patina, in form of a kneeling female figure, crowned by an elaborate coiffure with a high board-shaped pillar, dam., traces of weathering, cracks, on base; used for ritual shrines or palace buildings. The allusion to "mother" as the pillar of society is made explicit in this exceptional post. This figure may be a mother of twins, an almost revered status among the Yoruba peoples, who refer to such a woman as the "mother of all".

H: 152,5 cm
H: 60 inch

Provenance
Loudmer Paris, 27./28. 6. 1991, lot 83
Mon Steyaert, Brussels, Belgium
Lempertz, Brussels, 28.4.2007, lot 86

GVR Archives Registration No.
0050954

Literature
Nooter Roberts, Mary,Saar, Alison, Body Politics, Los Angeles 2000, p. 68, ill. 11

Price: 5000 - 10000 €

367 Helmet mask

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Cameroon Grassfields

light brown wood, spotty brown patina, slanting eyes, accentuated cheeks, headgear in open-work design, dam., insect caused damage, missing parts, traces of abrasion

H: 50 cm
H: 19.7 inch

Provenance
Coll. A. Eckert, Munich, Germany (1961)
Coll. Helmuth Brust, Munich, Germany

Literature
Segy, Ladislas, Masks of Black Africa, New York 1976, p. 177, ill. 178
Germann, Paul, Das plastisch-figürliche Kunstgewerbe im Graslande von Kamerun, o.J., Tafel 3, ill. 18

Price: 850 - 1300 €

368 Helmet mask

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields, Babanki/Babungo

wood, blackish brown patina, kaolin, large-sized in form with well-balanced features creating a friendly expression on the face, crowned by a disc-shaped platform, carved with a crest of vertical arranged lance tips, plant fibre cord backside in the mouth area, slightly dam., abrasion, rep., cracks, on metal base; Babanki masks retain the imposing presence which characterizes Grassfield art, but are without its aggressive expressionist quality. It is the "prettiest" style of the Grassfields. According to M. K. Wittmer masks with arrow platform superstructures are mostly attributed to the Babungo. The peoples of Babungo and Bamunka, both of which are important Grasslands smelting centers, attach special significance to smiths.

H: 55,5 cm
H: 21.9 inch

Provenance
Dr. Karl-Ferdinand Schädler, Munich, Germany
Fred Jahn, Munich, Germany

Literature
Germann, Paul, Das plastisch-figürliche Kunstgewerbe im Graslande von Kamerun, o.O., o. J., Tafel 2, ill. 13
Wittmer, Marcilene, Cameroon, Charlotte 1977, ill. 10

Price: 6000 - 10000 €

369 Male figurine "mosongo"

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields, Bafo

wood, red and blackish brown encrusted patina, unclear if the hands support a chin beard or a flute, two openings on the head, slightly dam., minor missing parts, on the right foot inside inscribed "A-62", on metal plate; "mosongo" represents a supernatural power, who is said to punish those who give false oath. If someone perjures by the name of "mosongo", the figure is said to topple or to make a striking movement, and the perjurer soon is befallen by a horrible accident.

H: 18,5 cm
H: 7.3 inch

Provenance
Coll. Karl Modéer, Stockholm, Sweden
Pace Primitive, New York, USA, No. 53-1628

Exposed in
Pace Primitive New York, Catalogue, Fall 2007

Published in
Negerkonst.Stockholm: National Museum, 1953, p. 101, cat. 368

GVR Archives Registration No.
0072690

Literature
Gardi, Bernhard, Kunst in Kamerun, Basel 1994, p. 63, ill. 59

Price: 9000 - 15000 €

370 Helmet mask "ngoin"

This object is not available any more.

Cameroon Grassfields, Bamileke

wood, dark brown patina, kaolin, large-sized exrpessive forms, coiffure with slit-like opening in the parting, slightly dam., minor missing parts, on pedestal; shows the distinct headdress of royal titled wives, symbolizing the role of women as complementary to men. The complete traditional vestment consists of a garment of blue and white royal cloth and a flywhisk. The mask dances in short contained steps appropriate to her noble image.

H: 38 cm
H: 15 inch

Literature
Northern, Tamara, Expressions of Cameroon art, o. O. 1986, p. 54 f., ill. 43

Price: 900 - 1800 €