Online catalogue for the 69th tribal art auction

141 Small female figure "tugubele"

This object is not available any more.

Ivory Coast, Senufo

wood, blackish brown patina, typical posture and coiffure, min. dam., on wooden base; smaller figures belong to individuals, in most cases soothsayers. "Tugubele" are creatures of the wild. They are said to be good friends with humans and animals as well and act as an intermediary between them.

H: 17 cm
H: 6.7 inch

Provenance
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1966)
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

142 Twin figure "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Imala, Egbado

wood, reddish brown patina, string with bar-shaped glass beads, typical Abeokuta characteristics: curious gesture of the hands, Egba tribal marks, high crested coiffure, instead of the usual loincloth the "ibeji" wears shorts, drilled pupils, slightly dam., missing parts (at the back of the coiffure)

H: 24,5 cm
H: 9.6 inch

Provenance
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1960)
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Polo, Fausto, Enzyklopädie der Ibeji, o. J. 2008, ill. 183

Sold.

143 Female pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Ibadan

wood, dark brown patina, camwood powder, indigo blue paint at the coiffure, strings with coconut discs, high crested coiffure with grooved pattern, drilled pupils, linear incised scarification marks on the face, hanging breasts, slightly dam., crack (pedestal)

H: 31 cm
H: 12.2 inch

Provenance
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1966)
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, p. 179, ill. 72

Sold.

144 Pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Ibadan

wood, rich reddish brown patina, in some areas encrusted with camwood powder, glass bead necklace, male/female, big spectacle-like eyes, arranged very close together, straight and flat carved mouth, elaborate scarification marks on the body, short legs and beautiful carved hands, slightly dam., minor missing parts (coiffure of the female), the faces abraded, both mounted side by side on a wooden base; the face of the male figure differing from the face of the female.

H: 23,5 cm (male), 24,5 cm (female)
H: 9.3 inch (male), 9.6 inch (female)

Provenance
Gallery Rarekiek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

145 Pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Oshogbo

wood, reddish brown patina, encrusted with camwood powder, indigo blue pigment, strings of glass beads and cowrie snails, male/female, drilled pupils, scarification marks on body and face, the facial features rubbed off from feeding procedures, slightly dam.; as the Yoruba believe that twins have a combined, inseparable soul, the moment one of the twins dies, the life of the other is immediately imperiled, because the balance of his soul is seriously disturbed. Therefore an artisan is ordered to carve a small wooden figure to serve as new abode for the soul of the deceased. The "babalawo" performs the traditional ritual of transferring the soul into the wooden figure. They are called "ere ibeji". The Yoruba word "ibeji" means "twin", "ere" = "sacred image".

H: 29 cm (male), 30 cm (female)
H: 11.4 inch (male), 11.8 inch (female)

Provenance

Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

146 Pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Oyo

wood, reddish brown patina, encrusted with camwood powder "osun" in some areas, indigo blue pigment at the coiffure, two necklaces with bar-shaped glass beads, male/female, Oyo-typical characteristics: the elongated hairdo, which is made up of four rolls meeting at the back of the head in a chignon, three lancet-shaped Oyo marks on the forehead, the pointed mouth, thick arms and scarification marks on the abdomen, drilled pupils, min. abrasion, mounted on wooden base

H: 30/30,5 cm
H: 30/12 inch

Provenance
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1966)
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

147 Dignitary staff

This object is not available any more.

Gabon, Punu

light brown wood, brown patina, twisted upper part, sumounted by a janiform head, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion

L: 104,5 cm
L: 41.1 inch

Provenance
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

148 Mask "pwoom itok"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Kuba

wood, polychrome paint, conical protruding eyes, enclosed by drilled holes, pupils inset with metal tags, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion; this mask appears during the young men's initiation and also performs as a dance mask. It incarnates an old wise man who is consulted by the other dancers. Among the Bushong it is worn by members of the "babende" secret society, which is responsible for the apprehension of criminals.

H: 24,5 cm
H: 9.6 inch

Provenance
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1966)
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

149 Standing figure

This object is not available any more.

Kenya, Kamba

wood, shiny brown patina, strings of glass beads around the neck, the eyes inset with glass splinters, simplified body with stub arms,min. dam., cracks, on wooden base; the Kamba traditionally applied their carving skills to articles of daily use. The first figurative carvings can be traced back to one man - Mutisya Munge - a Kamba tribesman, who joined the army in 1914 and at the same time began to produce carvings of Askaris and African people in traditional clothing for the purpose of selling them to Europeans.

H: 29 cm
H: 11.4 inch

Provenance
F. Dörling, Hamburg, 10. Dezember 1975, lot 204
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

150 Mask "mbuya"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Pende

wood, matt patina, polychrome paint, a bonnet and a chin beard made from raffia bast and plant fibres, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, on base; masks of the Pende were used to worship the chief and for initiation rites or for sacred purposes of the priests. In particular, this artist has captured the "bedroom eyes" ("zanze") believed essential to women's power over men. The eyes are relatively small in size and the upper lids curve downwards to create the impression that they are nearly closed.

H: 33 cm
H: 13 inch

Provenance
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1962)
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Herreman, Frank, Petridis, Constantijn (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 65

Price: 2000 - 4000 €