African Art Collection Auction Ending 11/30

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FACE MASK. Kwele people, Gabon/ Cameroon/ Equatorial Guinea. The face of this rare mask has three pairs of eyes with only the middle pair perforated. A knob on the inside was held in the mouth of the wearer. Wood, pigment. H 13in. Exhibited Free Library Gallery, Philadelphia 2012. Published in Rosen, Rosen 2013 p. 171 Fig 241. Also see Bacquart 1998 p. 123.

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FACE MASK. Anang (Ibibio) people, Nigeria. This complex mask depicts a rearing horse encircle by a snake. A spotted fish is perched on the snake on one side. On the other side, the head of the snake is held between the outstretched arms of a standing male figure. The horse is a reference to the Nigerian coat of arms and the snake refers to Mami Wata, a water goddess. Hence, the fish. The face is decorated with markings typically found on Anang masks. A rubber strap cut from the inner tube of a bicycle tire is attached to the back of the mask. Wood, pigment, rubber strap. H 20in. For examples of related masks see Rosen, Rosen 2013 pp. 149-150. Also see Drewal 2008

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FINE PROCESSIONAL CROSS. Coptic Christian people, Ethiopia. The zigzag design forming an arch around the cross represents the rays of the sun. Text in Coptic script decorates the shaft. This small icon would be used as a personal altar. Silver/nickel alloy. H 9in.

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KNEELING CHIEF. Kuba people, Democratic Republic of Congo. Wood. H 10.5in.

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WOODEN LIDDED SERVING BOWL WITH PELICAN. Lozi people, Zambia. Wood, pigment. H 7.5in W 8.5in. See Bacquart 1998 p. 201.

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ASAFO MILITIA COMPANY FLAG. Fante people, Ghana. This flag is a graphic representation of the proverb, “Our ship is ready to sail; it can carry a load of any size”. The message is that the No.1 Company is ready to confront and overcome any domestic or military challenge. This rare flag can be dated between 1964 and 1966 because during this period the yellow stripe in the Ghana national flag was replaced with a white stripe. Other unusual features are the absence of a border and the serrated fringe. Cotton textile with hand sewn figures and embroidered details. Identical images on both sides. L 65in. W 35.5in. This flag is published in “Emblems of Power. Asafo Flags from Ghana”. This book is only available from the authors at ppr2001@med.cornell.edu.

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ANKLET CURRENCY. Mbole/ Jonga/ Hamba people, Democratic Republic of Congo. Worn mainly by women, these anklets were a store of wealth because of the great value of copper. They were used as currency for commercial and marriage transactions (bride wealth). Probably dating from the early 20th century with the darkened patina of old copper. On custom base. Copper. 7in. diameter.

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FACE MASK. Dan Guerre people, Liberia. This fierce mask features the horns of a bush cow and the tusks of a wild pig, both known to be very dangerous prey of hunters. The dome is encrusted with libations and sprouts a bent nail that “energizes” the mask. Wood, pigment, libations, nail. H 12in.

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HEADRESTS (2). Arse people, Ethiopia. (A) Carved designs on the conical base and flanges at the ends of the curved top. Wood, pigment, cloth. H 6.5in. (B) Humanoid pedestal. Carved designs. Wood, pigment. H 7.5in.

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GOLD WEIGHTS (6). Ivory Coast. Sankofa bird on pyramidal base; scorpion; deer; porpoise; stork; mythical animal with horns and long tail. Cast brass. 2-3in.

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PENDANTS: CROSS (4) AND STAR OF DAVID (2). Coptic Christian people, Ethiopia. 20th century. Nickel/silver alloy. 1.5-3in.

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FACE MASK (NGIL). Fang people, Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea/ Cameroon. Worn by a member of the Ngil Society, the masker appears at night illuminated by torches during initiation ceremonies or to punish criminals. Wood, kaolin clay pigment. H 18.5in.

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WOMAN’S WRAP. Ewe people, Ghana. This extraordinary textile consists of 14 hand woven, hand sewn strips, each with a different pattern. The offset placement of the weft blocks endows the cloth with vibrant energy. Cotton. L 84in W 45in.

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FOREHEAD MASK (GEH-NAW). Bassa people, Liberia. Representing a non-human spirit of the Nor Society, this mask is worn attached to a woven basketry framework. Wood, pigment. H 9in. Exhibited at Free Library Gallery Philadelphia 2011. Published in Rosen, Rosen 2013 p.57 Fig 64.

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HELMET MASK. Bembe people, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Janus mask presents the face of a forest spirit with two pairs of large, oval eyes and horns. Wood, pigment. H 17in.

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BOGOLAN (MUD CLOTH) TEXTILE. Bamana people, Mali. Unusual example depicting many animals and birds. Five hand woven, hand sewn strips of cotton country cloth. L 82in. W 24in.

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BYERI FIGURE. Fang people, Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea/ Cameroon. This is a guardian statue placed on a Byeri box holding the bones of important ancestors. It is stabilized by a wooden peg arising from the buttocks. The metal disc eyes, hands clasped on the abdomen, and bent knees are characteristic features. Holes in the coiffure at the back of the head held feathers. Wood, pigment, metal, raffia. H 22.5in. See Bacquart 1998 pp. 124-126.

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CEREMONIAL/PARADE KNIFE. Kundu/Konda people, Democratic Republic of Congo. The shaft of the wood handle is wrapped in braided copper wire, the upper part is wrapped in sheet copper, and the knob at the base is copper decorated with brass tacks. Copper and brass in any form were highly prized prestige items in Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. The front of the body and upper arms are decorated with incised linear and zig-zag lines that are obscured by rust. Prestige knives such as this dating from the colonial era were sometimes used in important barter transactions. On custom base. Wood, iron, copper, brass. H17.5in. See “Tribal Arms Monograph”. Vol #2 “Execution Knives & Derivatives” by Christian Gosseau, Brussels 1997 Figs 87-88. This may be the only published description of this rare prestige knife.

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SOWEI HELMET MASK. Sherbro people, Sierra Leone. Collected in Sumbuya Town. Helmet masks of the Sherbro, Mende and other peoples of Sierra Leone are carved by men to be worn exclusively by women during the initiation ceremonies of the Sande Society for girls. In this culture, facial features (nose, eyes, mouth, and ears) are accorded less importance than the fine quality of a girl’s hair and the glow of her skin as indicators of good health, and the dome of her forehead denoting intelligence. These features are fully embodied in this mask with very abundant, finely carved hair drawn into six long braids, the large domed forehead, and the disproportionately small facial features. The entire face is exceptionally low, appearing to displace the neck rings. On custom base. Wood, pigment. H 16in. Published in Rosen, Rosen 2013 p. 44 Fig. 45.

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GONGOLI MASK. Mende people, Sierra Leone. Gongoli is an entertainment masquerade that appears at Sande initiation ceremonies. The mask is worn by a man dressed in a ragged costume who is accompanied by boys and men banging on bottles and cans. The masks are purposely ugly with grossly large noses, eyes, mouths, and ears that are the antithesis of the Sowei mask. Faded white paint indicates the hair and eyebrows of an old man, as well as ugly cheek scarifications. The knob at the bottom of the mask is a beard. This mask dates from the late 19th or early 20th century. Wood, pigment. H 23in. Exhibited at Free library Gallery Philadelphia 2012. Published in Rosen, Rosen 2013 p. 54 Fig. 59.