Online catalogue for the 69th tribal art auction

251 Bracelet

This object is not available any more.

Sudan

ivory, natural grains recognizable, polished, consisting of two parts, b: 6 cm, decorated with dots, min. dam., slight traces of usage

D: 10,5 cm
D: 4.1 inch

Provenance
Adalbert von Alföldy, Eislingen, Germany

Sold.

252 Female tomb figure "moira goh-gjih"

This object is not available any more.

Sudan, Bongo

heavy light brown wood, well-balanced body, simple facial features with small metal eyes, the surface signed by weathering, cracks, missing part through insect caused damage, the shanks cut, on pedestal; anthropomorphic statues like the present one were placed on memorials, which were erected together with a cylindrical stone crop about one year after the funeral took place. The figures depict the dead, who could be identified by individual characteristics such as tattoos or scars

H: 76,5 cm
H: 30.1 inch

Provenance
German Private Collection

Price: 7000 - 12000 €

253 Bracelet

This object is not available any more.

Sudan, Dinka

ivory, of round form, bipartite, decorated with circular punchings, min. dam., slight traces of usage

D: 12,5 cm
D: 4.9 inch

Literature
comparable object: Yale No. 0078227

Sold.

254 Shield

This object is not available any more.

Sudan, Toposa

metal, wood, remains of paint, of rectangular form with raised middle ridge, decorated with a dark panache, wooden handle on the rear, min. dam., slight traces of usage and corrosion; rare! shields like the present were much more used to confuse the opponent, than to protect the body of its owner.

H: 91 cm
H: 35.8 inch

Provenance
Gebbing, Frankfurt, Germany

Sold.

255 Three combs

This object is not available any more.

West Africa

wood, brown patina, a) comb of the Chokwe, D.R. Congo, surmounted by a head, originally with eight teeth (three missing), h: 14 cm; b) comb with a human head and six teeth, min. dam., slight traces of usage, h: 24 cm; c) comb with seven teeth and open worked handle, min. dam., minor missing parts (teeth), h: 9 cm

Provenance
Adalbert von Alföldy, Eislingen, Germany

Sold.

256 Mask "geh naw"

This object is not available any more.

Liberia, Bassa

wood, dark brown patina, hollowed facial plane, elaborate coiffure consisting of nine voluminous lobes, open mouth with six teeth, pierced around the rim, min. dam., minor missing parts, cracks; the mask type "geh-naw" belongs to a secret society called "chu-den-zo". It used to entertain the audience when the initiated boys returned from the bush camp or when distinguished guests came to visit the village. The dancer wore the mask on the forehead, looking through a gap within the cloth, veiling his head and the upper part of his body.

H: 21 cm
H: 8.3 inch

Sold.

257 Horned mask

This object is not available any more.

Liberia, Toma

wood, slightly encrusted patina, flat oval facial plane, protruding forehead with grooved decor, surmounted by curved horns, pierced around the rim, min. dam., missing parts (horn tips), traces of insect caused damage; only few figures of the Toma are known but there is a variety of masks which are used during the "poro" men' s society ceremonies. They can be categorized into three main types, the male "landa", the female "nyangbai", and finally the "horned masks".

H: 58 cm
H: 22.8 inch

Provenance
Adalbert von Alföldy, Eislingen, Germany

Sold.

258 Powder horn

This object is not available any more.

Sierra Leone, Kissi/Mende/Toma

ivory, honey brown patina, curved form, partly open worked, engraved and raised decor, punched silver cuff, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion; either used for gun powder or tobacco. Traces of the original stopper still recognizable as dark rim on the inside. Made in the tradition of Sapi-Portuguese artfacts. "Sapi" is the name given to the peoples that lived along coastal Sierra Leone by Portuguese traders during the 15th and 16th centuries. Beautiful ivory carvings, known in the literature as "Afro-Portuguese" ivories, were commissioned by Portuguese sailors who visited this area. The ivories incorporate both African and Portuguese forms.

L: 29 cm, ~ 1840 - 1860, presumably earlier
L: 11.4 inch, ~ 1840 - 1860, presumably earlier

Literature
E. Bassani, W. Fagg, Africa and the Renaissance: Art in Ivory, New York City 1988, ill. 285

Price: 4000 - 8000 €

259 Standing female figure

This object is not available any more.

Sierra Leone, Limba

wood, slightly encrusted brown patina, long-legged, accentuated navel, cap-like headgear, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base

H: 44,5 cm
H: 17.5 inch

Provenance
Manfred Schäfer, Neu-Ulm, Germany
Lempertz, Brussels, 26 April 2008, lot 91
Jo de Buck, Brussels, Belgium

Exposed in
"Tribal & Textile Arts XIV/2008", New York, USA, 15-18 May 2008

GVR Archives Registration No.
0088940

Sold.

260 Standing female figure "minsereh"

This object is not available any more.

Sierra Leone, Mende

wood, shiny blackish brown patina, elongated body with accentuated breast, scarifications on the back, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base; the rare figures of the Mende are always of female gender and they are called "minsereh". In service of the "yassi" society they mediate between humans and spirits and were consulted for oracle. Alike the masks they are dyed in black and their necks are arranged in rings.

H: 60,5 cm
H: 23.8 inch

Provenance
Michel Gaud, Saint Tropez, France

Literature
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Lexikon Afrikanische Kunst und Kultur, München, Berlin 1994, p. 281

Price: 15000 - 30000 €