Online catalogue for the 67th tribal art auction

351 Female power figure

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Lumbo

wood, encrusted reddish surface overall with areas of black pigment, metal rings, abdomen with resinous magic bundle at the center, framed by bent arms and pendant breasts, the large eyes inset with glass beneath a uniform brow, wearing a crested, helmet-like coiffure, slightly dam., cracks, mounted on pedestal; the Lumbo used to use small statuettes in rites, that certain missionaries described as "fetishist". This sculptural art included statuettes of the "nkoshi" type, like the present object. The sculpture had a divinatory function or acted to protect lineage-related relics. These were ritual tools that the "nganga"(diviner/healer) used to impress his public. The spirit invoked was supposed to have taken residence, as it were, in the sulpture. During rites related to sorcerer hunts, once a guilty individual had been designated, the "nganga" would oblige him either to swear his innocence or admit his guilt in front of the statuette. If the suspect claimed innocence, he was then obliged to submit to an ordeal of test-by poison. Furtheron there is evidence of rapport between femaleness and magic in South Gabon. Those who heal and assist the "nganga" are mostly women. If the magician does not have the blood of victims specially sacrificed for the rite at his disposal, he may use menstrual blood or blood obtained from a recent birth.

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Provenance
Reynold C. Kerr, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1977)
William Brill, New York, USA
Sotheby's New York, The William W. Brill Collection of African Art, November 17, 2006, lot 92
Yann Ferrandin, Paris, France

Published in
Ferrandin, Yann, Kongo, Art magique, Belgien 2009, ill. 41,

Literature
Fagaly, William, Ancestors of Congo Square, New Orleans 2011, p. 275

Price: 25000 - 50000 €

352 Paddle

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Lumbo

light wood, matt patina, with a shaft cirular in cross section, crowned by a human head, min. dam., traces of usage

L: 81,5 cm
L: 32.1 inch

Price: 500 - 1000 €

353 Mask "okuyi"

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Punu

wood, kaolin, black pigment, coiffure in three lobes, reduced scarifications, clear traces of the carving tool backside, slightly dam., minor missing parts (coiffure), abrasion; variation of the so-called "White Masks of the Ogowe". "Okuyi"-masks were used at funeral ceremonies, at which they represented male and female ancestors. The dancers used to wear raffia costumes, while moving on high stilts and frightening the audience with wild screams. Nowadays this mask type mostly appears for entertainment within the scope of festivities.

H: 28,5 cm
H: 11.2 inch

Provenance
Lore Kegel, Hamburg, Germany

Price: 1800 - 3500 €

354 Mask "okuyi"

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Punu

wood, the facial plane whitened with kaolin, black and red paint, tribe-typical facial features with small slit eyes and cheek scarifications, crowned by a multi-lobed coiffure, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion

H: 28,5 cm
H: 11.2 inch

Provenance
Lore Kegel, Hamburg, Germany
Coll. Dr. Karl-Heinz Kaufel, Hamburg, Germany

Price: 1000 - 2000 €

355 Female figure

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Punu

light wood, pigments, kaolin, without feet rising from a round base, a strong, columnar neck supporting an oval head with two-lobed coiffure, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion and insect caused damage, on wooden base; figures of the the Punu are rare to be found. Punu masks with analogue faces were worn by mask dancers on high stilts. They are said to represent the spirits of beautiful young maiden who recurred from the dead to take part in the village life. Similar fully plastic statuettes of young women were attached to pouches containing human relics. The white paint not only refers to the deceased, but to methods for warding off witches as well. Sorceres were believed to be most active and effective by night and the colour white suggests brightness and lucidity, both contrary to the night and to secrets. In Gabun and the bigger part of Central Africa clairvoyants encircle their eyes with white clay, which should enable them to reveal witchcraft.

H: 41 cm
H: 16.1 inch

Provenance
Old German Colonial Collection

Price: 4000 - 5000 €

356 Mask

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Tsogho

light brown wood, polychrome remains of pigments, of oval form, a heart-shaped deepened facial plane with small slit eyes, whitened with kaolin, crowned by a four-parted crested coiffure, collection number "F9" at the rear, min. dam., insect causedd damage, traces of abrasion; the Tsogho are a small ethnic group living in the central south of Gabon north of the Punu and east of the Shira.

H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch

Provenance
Julius Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1933)

Literature
Gollnhofer, Otto, Art e Artisanat Tsogho, Paris 1975, p. 101

Sold.

357 Two-faced helmet mask

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Vuvi

wood, withened with kaolin in a thick layer, black pigment, helmet-shaped corpus with broad rim, open on top and provided with various drilled holes, presumably for attachment of head ornament, on both sides carved with homogeneous anthropomorphic faces with forehead and cheek tattoos, slightly dam., on metal base; "ngontang" means "face of a young white girl". But its meaning is not entirely settled until today. The name could refer to a visitor from the afterlife, where all the spirits are white. Masks such as this one were worn by male dancers in ritual performances. Nowadays such dancing still takes place at feasts as part of the celebrations but is now entertainment rather than a religious ritual.

H: 25 cm
H: 9.8 inch

Provenance
Gapereaux, Toulouse, France

Sold.

358 Figure of St. Anthony

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo

brass, dark patina, dressed with habit, holding a child on his arm, eyelet on the back, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion

H: 9,5 cm
H: 3.7 inch

Literature
Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 204

Sold.

359 Weapons

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo

wood, metal, sickle knife of the Mangbetu, curved blade with a hole, l: 37,5 cm; knife of the Tetela, wooden handle partly wrapped in copper wire, l: 34,5 cm; sabre knife of the Azande, l: 54 cm; axe of the Pende, with curved iron blade, h: 39 cm; sabre knife with decorated wooden sheath, l: 48 cm, knife with ivory handle, ornamented blade and leather sheath, l: 28 cm; all showing slight traces of corrosion; additionally a heddle pulley of the Yoruba, Nigeria, surmounted by a horned animal head, complete with crossbar and bobbin, slight traces of abrasion, h: 9,5 cm

Provenance
Coll. Dr. Karl-Heinz Kaufel, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

360 Crucifix

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bakongo

brass with patina, depicting the crucified Christ, four further figures in praying posture surrounding him, min. dam., slight traces of corrosion

H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch

Provenance
Old Belgian Collection

Literature
Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 204 f.

Price: 1000 - 2000 €