African Art Collection Auction Ending 1/25

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CROSS PENDANTS (3). Ethiopia. Hand cast. H 1.75in.-2.75in. Nickel-silver alloy.

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ROYAL MALE FIGURE. Dengese people, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Dengese are a small group of people living north of the Kuba. Figures of a king or a royal ancestor such as this are typically carved without legs and are said to embody royal power. This finely carved example has an elaborate coiffure surmounted by a horn-like object, The geometric design of the extensive body scarifications is reminiscent of those found in Kuba textiles and sculpture. H 16in. W 3.75in. Wood, pigment. See Bacquart 1998 pp. 172-173.

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MAN’S ADINKRA PRESTIGE CLOTH. Ashanti people, Ghana. This traditional man’s robe is worn at various ceremonial events. It consists of six 13 to 15in. panels of golden cotton muslin cloth that are hand sewn using colored cotton yarn. The decorative motif of the cloth consists of 16 different adinkra designs or named Ashanti symbols that were applied to one side of the cloth using stamps carved from dried calabash hulls that are dipped into a special black dye made by boiling the bark of the badee tree in a solution of iron slag. Lines are made with a comb-like device. It takes great skill to avoid dripping the dye onto the cloth while applying the design. Each motif has a different powerful symbolic meaning. This cloth was collected in Ghana in 2003. It was made in the town of Ntonso, Ghana, the center of adinkra production, and was said to have belonged to a royal family. The cloth is watermarked “United Africa Company”, Made in Ghana”, and Vat Dyed”. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery New York 2005. L 135.5in. W 84in. See Gillow 2003 pp. 88-90.

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BLANKET. Mende people, Sierra Leone. Collected in 2005 in the village of Magburka near Makeni. It is said to have been woven by Kieni Bowalu. A textile such as this is used as a bed covering or wall hanging. The central diamond-shaped design is a dramatic focal point. It is made from 7 hand woven, hand sewn strips. L 80in. W 70in. Cotton.

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MAN’S VEST OR HUNTING SHIRT. Mende people, Sierra Leone. This garment was created from 12 hand sewn strips, hand woven with hand spun cotton. It has an asymmetrical beige warp stripe design characteristic of this type of Mende country cloth. The beige color comes from the use of natural brown cotton. Heavy cloth such as this provides protection against mosquitoes. Textiles woven using hand spun cotton are no longer made. Collected in Sierra Leone in 2005. It was estimated to be at least 50 years old. L 36.5in. W 24.5in. Hand spun cotton. See lamb 1984 pp. 100-104.

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PENDANTS (4). Face with ram horns and braids, Baule people, Ivory Coast 2.5in. brass. Half moon wing-shaped with bird Mali 2.5in. brass. Discoid gold weight with abstract designs Ivory Coast 1.75in. brass. Mask with keystone shape Ashanti people Ghana 1.5in. Copper.

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BLOLO BLA FEMALE SPOUSE FIGURE. Baule people, Ivory Coast. This finely carved, tall sculpture represents a man’s spirit spouse who manifests herself in dreams. It is carved at the direction of a diviner and is kept in an altar in the owner’s bedroom where it is offered libations. On custom base. H 24in. W 3in. Wood, pigment. See Bacquart 1998 pp. 48-49.

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COUNTRY CLOTH WRAP. Mende people, Sierra Leone. This old cloth was hand woven from hand spun cotton. It consists of 12 hand sewn strips with the traditional asymmetrical blue warp stripe design of the kula hina type. This type of cloth was worn by men with high status in the community. The native repairs are evidence of the importance that was attached to this textile and the efforts undertaken to preserve it. The thick weave offered protection against mosquitoes. Collected in Sierra Leone in 2005. It was estimated to be at least 50 years old. L 72in. W 49in. Hand spun cotton. See Lamb 1984 pp. 100-104.

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ASAFO MILITIA COMPANY FLAG. Fante people, Ghana. One of the ways Asafo Companies protected their communities is by installing and manning checkpoints and barriers in roads leading to their towns. Here a Company that likens itself to the flying white eagle warns an opponent that is can overcome (fly over) any obstacle put in its way (represented by the red conical object). This flag is entirely hand sewn with embroidered details. Collected in Accra, Ghana and exhibited in the Free Library Gallery, Philadelphia 2013. L 60in. W 37in. Cotton.

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COMMEMORATIVE CLOTHS (2). Mali. The size of each cloth is one pagne, the amount needed to make a woman’s wrap. Collected in Bamako, Mali. The blue and chartreuse cloth celebrates the 6th Prix de la Femme du Mali in 2006 (Woman’s Prize of Mali) named after Aoua Kéita (1912-1980) whose photographic portrait with a determined expression appears on the cloth. She was an outspoken member of the African Democratic Rally political party seeking independence from France. Her renunciation of French citizenship in 1950 was an important symbolic act for Malian women. In 1959 she was elected to the Malian Parliament, a year before Mali became an independent nation. Her acclaimed autobiography titled An African Woman: The Autobiography of Aoua Kéita Told in Her Own Words was published in 1975. L 68in. W 44in. Printed cotton. The cloth with a white, orange, and yellow design celebrates the Organization Panafricaine des Femmes Pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest (The Pan-African Organization of West African Women) and 31 Juillet 2006: Journee Pan-Africaine des Femmes (July 31, 2006: The Day of Pan-African Women). Also depicted are the organization’s slogans: Paix, Securite et Stabilite Economique en Afrique (Peace, Security and Economic Stability in Africa) and Aucune Paix Durable Ne Peut Etre Etablie Sans Participation Effective Des Femmes (No lasting Peace Can Be Established Without the Meaningful Involvement of Women). L 69in. W 41in. Printed cotton.

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HAND PUPPET WITH PIPE. Ghana. The head and hands are small calabash gourds and the eyes are cowrie shells. Collected in 2007 in Accra, Ghana from the puppeteer Kwako Lofa. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery, New York, 2005. H (with base) 13.5in. W 7in. Wood, cloth, cowrie shells, calabashes, wood, string.

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PUPPET, Temne people (?), Sierra Leone. The arms are articulated at the shoulders. The head is detachable and can be rotated. He is wearing a camouflage outfit with cargo pockets at the sides of the shorts. Collected in 2004. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery, New York 2005. H 19.5in. W 6in. Wood, paint, nails.

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FACE MASK. Yaure people, Ivory Coast. This mask has a serrated border typically found on Yaure masks, as well as small, pouting mouth and scarifications on the forehead and cheeks. The coiffure consists of 3 lobes on the forehead that are drawn into a single peak on the crown of the head. H 11.5in. W 5.5in. Wood, pigment. See Bacquart 1998 pp.40-42.

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STRING PUPPET. Ewe people (?), Ghana. This old puppet was collected in Accra, Ghana in 2004. The seller said it was from Burkina Faso, but it appears more consistent with Ewe. It is articulated at the shoulders, elbows, knees, neck and waist. H 12in. W 4.5in. Wood, cloth, paint, string, nails, leather.

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WOMAN’S INDIGO WRAP. Fulani people (?), Burkina Faso. This soft, old indigo cloth with a 3-strand tie consists of 11 hand sewn 4in. strips reinforced with machine zigzag overstitching and native repairs. There are 5 different tie-dyed strip designs including the Islamic sun and moon symbols and the words rindadno dalemba which might be the name of the owner. L 65in. W 42in. Cotton.

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HEAD CREST MASK. Temne people, Sierra Leone. The lower half of this Ode-Lay Society mask is a female bust with Hindu-inspired facial features and heavy neck rings. The wings and horns are detachable, fitting into sockets in the head. A composite fierce animal head, also with neck rings, rises from the woman’s head. These elements represent the “fancy” and “fierce” aesthetic of Ode-Lay Society masquerade performances. Collected in 2004. It was said to be from the town of “Rupupu”. H 20in. W 9in. (without horns or wings). Wood, paint, nails. See Rosen 2013 pp. 58-91 Fig. 92.

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STRING PUPPET. Ghana. This male puppet collected in Ghana was said to be modeled after one of the puppets who performed to the song, Tom and Jerry Aware on a Ghanaian music CD labeled Kojo by Kojo Antwi put out by Freedom Family Entertainment. The impressive video show shows multiple string puppets playing various musical instruments to the Tom and Jerry tune. It can be found by searching Tom and Jerry Aware with your web browser. It is articulated at the neck, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips and knees. H 15.5in. W 6in. Wood, cloth, metal, leather, string.

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KARANGA PLANK MASK. Mossi people, Burkina Faso. As is typical of the Yatenga-style Karanga mask from the northern part of the country, this example features a small protruding antelope head with long curving horns placed just above the stylized face. White areas of the face and plank are colored with a mixture of white chalk and egg, a composition that darkens over time. These masks appear at funerals and other important ceremonies. H 59.5in. W 7in. See Bacquart 1998 pp. 68-69.

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WOMAN’S INDIGO WRAP. Burkina Faso. Collected in 2006, this very soft tie-dyed cloth with a repeating ladder- like design consists of 9 hand sewn, hand woven 4in. strips. L 62in. W 36in. Cotton.

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WOMAN’S KENTE WRAP. Ashanti people, Ghana. The warp stripe pattern is Ammert Oyokoman with the characteristic green, gold and red colors. This very soft, tightly woven cloth consists of 11 hand woven, hand sewn strips. It would make a dramatic wall hanging. L 75in. W 36in. Cotton.