African Art Collection Auction Ending 5/3

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KIFWEBE FACE MASK. Songye people, Democratic Republic of Congo. This female kikashi mask lacks the saggital crest that typifies a male kilume mask. The mask belongs to the men’s Bwadi Society and is danced at various ceremonies including funerals of Society members. H 22in. Wood, pigment. See Rosen, Rosen 2013 p. 174-177. Exhibited Free Library Gallery Philadelphia 2012.

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NDUNGA FACE MASK. Woyo people, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Woyo people, a subgroup of the Kongo people, are known for large, polychrome masks such as this. The colorful dots and brass tacks are said to have various meanings. It is worn with a bulky costume of banana leaves. The complete ensemble is called ndunga, meaning enormous and hidden. H 17in. Wood, brass tacks, pigment. Published in Rosen, Rosen 2013 p. 188.

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ROYAL BEADED STOOL. Bamum people, Cameroon. Probably used by a Chief’s wife. H 11.5in. Glass beads on traditional ndop indigo-dyed cloth, wood.

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CHI WARA HEAD CREST MASK. Bamana people, Mali. This mask represents the mythical roan antelope that the Bamana people believe taught them to farm. This example shows the antelope surmounted by an abstract human figure who may represent a farmer, and long antelope horns. H 20.5in. Wood, pigment. See Rosen, Rosen 2013 p. 94-95.

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WOMAN’S DANCE SKIRT PANEL. Shoowa subgroup of Kuba people, Democratic Republic of Congo. This old skirt has a large rectangular panel of red cut pile and embroidered raffia textile with typical geometric designs that are replicated in the attached borders. L 60in. W 22in. Hand woven and hand sewn cut pile and embroidered raffia, natural pigments. See Gillow 2003 p. 196-201 and Spring 1989 plate 14. Exhibited Pen and Brush Gallery New York City 2002.

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BOGOLAN (MUD CLOTH) TEXTILE. Baule people (?), Ivory Coast. Although bogolan is usually associated with Mali, it is also produced in neighboring countries such as Ivory Coast. The delicately drawn designs on this fine, soft hand woven cotton strip cloth replicate the decorative pattern that would be found on a fringed, strip woven blanket or wrap from Ivory Coast. It was a technical feat to have the hand drawn bogolan designs on the eight hand sewn strips match so perfectly across the textile. L 61in. W 33in. Cotton.

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ZAKPAI OR GE (FIRE) MASK. Dan people, Liberia, Ivory Coast. Male masks of this type are covered by red cloth or have a strip of red cloth across the wide open, round eyes. The beard and moustache indicate the higher ancestral status of the mask. Metal rings around the eyes were lost leaving traces of the adhesive material that held them in place. The three remaining teeth may be fish bones. H 9.5in. Wood, cloth, twine, fur, plant fibers. Published in Rosen, Rosen 2013 p.23, Fig 15. Exhibited Free Library Gallery, Philadelphia 2012.

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STANDING MALE ANCESTRAL FIGURE. Senufo people, Ivory Coast. This figure has the elongated face, pouting lips, and t-shaped nose found in Senufo Poro Society masks. The elongated torso and arms, and short legs resemble those of a Senufo rhythm pounder (pombibele) sculpture that is used to signal the beat in ceremonial dances. The shape of the base as well as wear on the sides of the arms and bottom of the base suggest that this sculpture may have been used in this fashion. H 9.75in. Wood, pigment, See Bacquart 1998 p. 74-76.

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KPELIYE FACE MASK. Senufo people, Ivory Coast. This mask gains power from the chameleon on the top, an animal endowed with supernatural powers because it can change the color of its body. The central appendage below the chin is a beard. Legs are represented on either side of the chin, and the lateral appendages are wings. It is worn during Poro Society ceremonies seeking to counter dangerous spirits. H 13in. Wood, pigment. See Bacquart 1998 p.74-76.

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MATERNAL ANCESTOR FIGURE. Hemba people, Democratic Republic of Congo. This seated woman nursing an infant has the typical characteristics of a Hemba figural sculpture: short legs, an elongated torso, and an enlarged head with a backward swept coiffure held in place by a band arching over the forehead. Custom base. H 12in. See Bacquart 1999, p.160-163.

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RARE INDIGO AND WHITE WOMAN’S WRAP. Ewe people, Togo. The indigo and white strip pattern in this very old cloth is broken up by interspersed red and pale blue weft blocks. This represents the precursor to the pronounced weft block designs found in later Ewe and Asante kente cloth. It was collected in the Ewe region of Western Togo. Entirely hand woven and hand sewn. L 64in. W 43in. Cotton.

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EXTRAORDINARY OKUYI FACE MASK. Punu people, Gabon. Okuyi masks, representing an ideal female face, are danced at funerals and festivals. This exceedingly unusual example features a unique, finely carved coiffure consisting of two tall braided cones as well as lateral braids that encircle the face and are knotted below the chin. The considerable age of the mask is evidenced by darkening of the white facial kaolin pigment. Typical scarifications are present on the forehead and temples. H 13.5in. Wood, pigment.

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PROCESSIONAL CROSS. Coptic Christian people, Ethiopia. The three round cartouches with doors depict saints and angels. Mary and baby Jesus are depicted behind the central arched doors. All images are hand painted. The cross is affixed to the top of a pole when carried in a procession. Processional crosses such as this one with painted icons are not common. H 18in. Alloy of silver, nickel, and other metals.

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INDIGO WOMAN’S WRAP. Asante people, Volta region of Ghana. This textile consists of 14 hand woven, hand sewn strips with 4 different warp stripe designs. L 78in. W 49in. Cotton. Exhibited at Pen and Brush Gallery, New York City 2005. See Adler, Barnard 1992 p. 10, 24 for descriptions of the warp stripe designs.

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ANIMAL GOLD WEIGHTS (3). Ivory Coast. Used to weigh gold on a balance scale. Crocodiles sharing a body refers to the saying, “There is no need to fight over the food; it all goes to the same stomach”, meaning cooperation is better than conflict. Rooster H 2.5in. Warthog H 1.5in. Crocodiles W 2.5in. Brass.

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MVUNDI OR YOYO FACE MASK. Aduna people, Gabon. The Aduna mask has been described as “one of the oldest known masks in Equatorial Africa and Gabon.” It is typified by the dome-shaped forehead, slit eyes, triangular block nose, butterfly-shaped mouth as well as the brown and white coloration distributed in contrasting geometric patterns. H 19in. pigment. See Phillips 1999 p.515.

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JANUS HEAD CREST MASK. Temne people, Sierra Leone. The female bust at the base of this Ode-Lay Society mask and the kneeling female figures on the top have Hindu-inspired features. Between the kneeling women there is a bust of a ferocious leopard. In combination with the two snakes, the features of this mask are a reference to the water spirit, Mami Wata. Carved from a single piece of wood. H 28in. Wood, paint. Exhibited Free Library Gallery, Philadelphia 2012. Published in Rosen, Rosen 2013 p. 80.

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STOOL. Jima people, Ethiopia. Carved from a single log. Diameter of seat 17.5in. H 14.25in. Wood.

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PICTORIAL BOGOLAN TEXTILE. Bamana people, Mali. The picture was painted with the bogolan (mud cloth) technique using natural pigments on cloth made from 8 hand woven, hand sewn cotton strips. It depicts a bearded farmer with a hoe over one shoulder returning to his home with his dog. One of his wives is pouring milk into serving bowls while a second wife is carding cotton to make thread for weaving. Malian textiles such as this are difficult to acquire since a military coup destabilized the country and Jihadi activity has increased. L 63in. W 43in. Cotton.

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ANIMAL GOLD WEIGHTS (3). Ivory Coast. Used to weigh gold on a balance scale. Porpoise W 2.25in. Sea turtle W 3.75in. Land turtle W 2.75in. Brass.