Online catalogue for the 69th tribal art auction

151 Mask "mukinka"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Salampasu

wood, the whole face covered with copper sheet, coiffure of rattan bowls, beard and net-like bonnet made of plant fibres, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion; the number of masks a warrior society owned, indicated proven courage, experience of warfare and the number of "enemy heads" that had been taken. Copper-covered masks were considered highest in rank, they were worn at war ceremonies, celebrating brave "headhunters". The little balls made of plaited fibres appear to symbolize masculinity.

H: 23,5 cm
H: 9.3 inch

Provenance
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (1964)
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, p. 274

Sold.

152 Small power figure "nkisi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, slightly shiny brown patina, loincloth of sacking, a piece of fur on the breast, blue bead necklace, hole on top of the head, min. dam., fissures, on wooden base; smaller "nkisi" were kept inside the house in order to protect its inhabitants. They were often handed down from one generation to the next. These small "mankisi" were even taken along when people left their homes.

H: 24,5 cm
H: 9.6 inch

Provenance
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

153 Three snuff containers

This object is not available any more.

Zimbabwe, Shona

wood, shiny dark brown patina, coated with linear notched ornaments, the necks wrapped with cuffs of brass wire, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of usage; the offering and handing on of snuff containers and their content was accompanied by sophisticated courtesies.

L: 18 cm - 21,5 cm
L: 7.1 inch - 8.5 inch

Provenance
Hauswedell & Nolte, Hamburg, 28. Oktober 1975, lot 678
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Ginzberg, Marc, Afrikanische Formen, Mailand 2001, p. 115

Sold.

154 Neckrest "mutsago"

This object is not available any more.

Zimbabwe, Shona

wood, brown patina, oval base, elaborate carved support, crowned by a hollowed pillow, rep., min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion

H: 14 cm;
H: 5.5 inch;

Provenance
Hauswedell & Nolte, Hamburg, 28. Oktober 1975, lot 670
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Dewey, William J., Sleeping Beauties, Los Angeles 1993, p. 135

Sold.

155 Neckrest

This object is not available any more.

Zimbabwe, Shona

wood, dark brown patina, two struts resting on rounded feet, supporting a slightly vaulted seat, rep. (seat), slight traces of usage

H: 16 cm; L: 13 cm
H: 6.3 inch; L: 5.1 inch

Provenance
Hauswedell & Nolte, Hamburg, 28. Oktober 1975, lot 670
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

156 Neckrest

This object is not available any more.

South Africa, Zulu

wood, slightly shiny brown patina, strut in form of a stylized quadruped with horns (goat?), min. dam., slight traces of usage

H: 12,5 cm; L: 11 cm
H: 4.9 inch; L: 4.3 inch

Provenance
Hauswedell & Nolte, Hamburg, 28. Oktober 1975, lot 670
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Dewey, William J., Sleeping Beauties, Los Angeles 1993, p. 144

Sold.

157 Malagan mask "tatanua"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Bismarck Archipelago - New Ireland

light-coloured and soft wood, the mask painted with delicate ornaments in red, white, black and indigo blue, the high crested helmet composed of fiber, thread, and remains of plaster, one side with volute motif, projecting crest in shape of three dense rows of grass fibre tufts, good condition, on pedestal; the "tatanua" mask was a representation of the "tanua" spirit or soul of a deceased individual. "Tatanua" were danced in puplic, either in pairs, or in groups or lines of men. In addition to these masks the dancers wear a garland of fern leaves and other foliage round their bodies, reaching from the waist to the knee. They perform when a clan decides to sponsor a large-scale mortuary celebration, called "malagan". Some six weeks before this event the dancers begin sleeping and eating within the sponsors house. During this time they practice a form of abstinence in order to develop male "strength" for the performance. Not only are physical contacts with women taboo, the men may not eat peeled taro and fish. Should a dancer fail to develop this male capability through abstinence, the mask will constrict his head, causing blood to run from his temples and nostrils.

H: 40,5 cm, coll. in situ between 1890-1910
H: 15.9 inch, coll. in situ between 1890-1910

Provenance
Klaus Clausmeyer, Düsseldorf, Germany
Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, African & Oceanic Art, November 9, 1979, lot 136
Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland

Literature
Lincoln, Louise, Assemblage of Spirits, 1987, p. 65 f.
Gunn, Michael, Ritual Arts of Oceania - New Ireland, Genf, Mailand 1997, p. 146 f.

Sold.

158 Figure of an ancestor spirit

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik, Sawos

wood, pinkish-red and white patina, the body composed of ornamental forms, diamond-shaped head with a wide facial plane, mirror inlay eyes, pierced ears and top knot, the ankles wrapped with grass fibre, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, on pedestal

H: 45 cm, collected before 1950
H: 17.7 inch, collected before 1950

Provenance
Christie's London, Tribal Art, March 18, 1980, lot 111
Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland

Sold.

159 Horn

This object is not available any more.

West Africa

ivory, leather cuff, decorated with cowrie snails, miniature glass beads and shell ring (?), corpus with incised circular ornaments in cross-shaped arrangment, rhomb-shaped mouthpiece, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion and usage

L: 57 cm
L: 22.4 inch

Provenance
Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland

Price: 1500 - 3000 €

160 Female bowl bearer

This object is not available any more.

Sierra Leone, Mende/Temne

wood, glossy middle brown patina, black paint, encrusted in some areas, bead loincloth, rising from strong legs, in typical posture the arms carved free of the body with the hands on the hips, the compressed face on ringed neck carved with a medicine-horn necklet, the bowl on her head possibly carved as mortar, slightly dam. (above all the rim of the bowl), the back repaired with long split, on round wooden plate; medicine figures of this kind belong to the "yassi" society. They are used as protectors and healing agents. They are kept in a special area of the shrine with the medicine and, when needed to perform a cure, are placed in a bowl with a herb and clay mixture.

H: 52,5 cm
H: 20.7 inch

Provenance
brought from Sierra Leone by the late Sir Rory Baynes who was with the Royal West Africa Frontier Force in Sierra Leone from 1912 until 1914;
Christie's, London, May 13, 1980, lot 179
Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland

GVR Archives Registration No.
0028182

Sold.