African Art Auction Ending 2/18

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Ode-lay Society head crest Janus-faced mask. Temne people, Sierra Leone. H. 26.5in. Wooden objects projecting from the back resembling flames or hot peppers are power amulets. Published in “Masks from West and Central Africa” by Mary Sue and Paul Peter Rosen, p. 71.

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“Tradional (sic) Yupik Face”. Artist: …..Price. “This is a contemporary carving on ancient bone (whale vertebre 1000 B.P.). It represents the Hunter.” Very old whale bone, ivory and fur. 7 in. x 6.5in. Yupik Eskimo people. Collected in Anchorage, Alaska, 1994.

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Oval “Transformation Mask”. Artist: Herlet Kiytuiluk (Initials carved on back). “Hunter and prey become one in the animistic tradition. Yupik & Inuit art today reflect that tradition.” “300 year old whale bone,” ivory, hair and beads. 7.5in. x 5.0in. Yupik Eskimo people. Collected in Anchorage, Alaska, 1994.

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Old hand forged iron oil lamp with seven pans for oil. Can be hung on wall or stuck in ground. Dogon people, Mali. 34inx7.5in.

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Stool. Wood clad in embossed brass sheeting. Images of a bird standing on one leg and a butterfly with a heart-shaped body on seat. Asante people, Ghana. Collected in city of Kumasi. H 14.5in. W 20in.

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Rare wooden African throwing stick used as a weapon and for hunting. These weapons are much less common than metal throwing knives. Ingessana people, Sudan, Ethiopia. 27in. from base of handle to crown of head. See “African Arms and Armor” by Christopher Spring p. 77 Fig. 69 for similar examples.

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Bracelet with three bells on custom base. Base labeled “BE15” on bottom. Brass. 5in. in greatest diameter. Exhibited Pen and Brush Gallery, New York 2003.

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Old tulip-shaped brass bell with soldered indigenous repairs on custom base labeled “BE11” on bottom of base. Fretwork design on lower edge of bell. Iron clapper. Nigeria, probably Yoruba people. H 6in. Diameter 3.5in. Exhibited Pen and Brush Gallery, New York 2003.

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Hand forged old iron anklet with bells containing stones and suspended rings. Old colonial brass coin attached to one ring. Iron, stones, brass. Largest outside diameter 6.5in. Custom base labeled “BE18” on bottom. Yoruba people, Nigeria. Exhibited pen and Brush Gallery, New York 2003.

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Snake fetish kept in personal shrine. Hand forged iron. 8in. One custom base labeled “SN9” on bottom. Lobi people, Burkina Faso. Exhibited Pen and Brush Gallery, New York 2003.

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Snake leg amulet. Worn on leg as protection against snakes and evil spirits. Hand forged iron. On custom based labeled ‘SN7” on bottom. Exhibited Pen and Brush Gallery, New York 2003.

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Two-headed snake fetish with large eyes. Kept in personal shrine. On custom base labeled “SN2” on bottom. Hand forged iron. Lobi people, Burkina Faso. Exhibited Pen and Brush Gallery, New York 2003.

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Hoe blade with jelly fish form on custom base. Serrated edge used for cutting brush. Hand forged iron. H 16in. Mambila people, Nigeria. Old African hoe blades (early to mid-20th century). Because of the work required of blacksmiths to forge them and the essential importance of farming for survival, hoe blades such as these were highly valued and serve as currency before machine made blades were imported by European colonial traders. Hoe blades were often part of bride price. See “An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money” by Charles Opitz, pp. 157-158. (Also see lot # 73).

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Bow-shaped hand forged iron hoe blade on custom base. This type of blade has been used for centuries in Niger by the Songhai people, When used was attached to a wooden or brass shaft. H10in. Old African hoe blades (early to mid-20th century). Because of the work required of blacksmiths to forge them and the essential importance of farming for survival, hoe blades such as these were highly valued and serve as currency before machine made blades were imported by European colonial traders. Hoe blades were often part of bride price. See “An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money” by Charles Opitz, pp. 157-158. (Also see lot # 73).

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Fan-shaped hand forged iron hoe blade on custom base. Nigeria. H 9.25in. Old African hoe blades (early to mid-20th century). Because of the work required of blacksmiths to forge them and the essential importance of farming for survival, hoe blades such as these were highly valued and serve as currency before machine made blades were imported by European colonial traders. Hoe blades were often part of bride price. See “An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money” by Charles Opitz, pp. 157-158. (Also see lot # 73).

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C-shaped hand forged iron hoe blade with elegant curvature. Nigeria. H 10in. Old African hoe blades (early to mid-20th century). Because of the work required of blacksmiths to forge them and the essential importance of farming for survival, hoe blades such as these were highly valued and serve as currency before machine made blades were imported by European colonial traders. Hoe blades were often part of bride price. See “An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money” by Charles Opitz, pp. 157-158. (Also see lot # 73).

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Anklet or legband of cast brass used as currency or bride price. Worn by married women as a status symbol and repository of wealth. Late 19th or early 20th century. Mongo or Mbole people, Congo. H 9.25in. Diameter 5.5in. 8lbs. See “An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money” by C. Opitz, p.202.

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Arch-shaped brass manilla with faceted surfaces and flared ends. Late 19th century. Used as currency. Mongo or Mbole people, Congo. L 8in. H 5in. W 3.25in. See “An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money” by Opitz, p.32.