African Art Collection Auction Ending 11/30

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RITUAL PUPPET. Sukuma people, Tanzania. Puppets like this were used as mediums for communicating with ancestors at funerals. The absence of arms and asexual form are typical of these ritual sculptures. The indistinct eyes are indicated with rusted nails. The legs are articulated at the hips with strings held in place by beads. Seated on custom base. Wood, string, beads, nails. H 23.5in. See Bacquart 1998 pp.220-21 Fig 4.

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OTOGHO FACE MASK. Afikpo people, Nigeria. Otogho means to “peck like a bird”. It appears in a dance which comments on boastful men. Wood, raffia, pigment. Exhibited Free Library Gallery Philadelphia 2012. Published in Rosen, Rosen 2013 p.129 Fig 177.

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ASO OKE CLOTHS (3). Yoruba people, Nigeria. These textiles made from hand woven strips are worn on many ceremonial occasions, particularly those associated with life cycle events like a birth, marriage, or birthday. Aso oke cloth is distinguished by open work and warp float threads. Open work holes provide ventilation. In the 1970s, lurex, metalized plastic threads were introduced, creating a glittery effect. (A) Beige and white with weft designs including silver lurex. Open work with warp floats. Cotton, lurex. L 76.5in W 51in. (B) Turquoise and white with silver and gold lurex. L 67.5in W 56in. (C) Turquoise stripes with gold and shimmering green designs on beige and green strips. Open work and warp floats. L 76in W 52in. See Clarke 1997 pp. 94-111.

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BRACELETS (5). Each on custom base. (A) Dogon people. Collected in Mopti, Mali. Wood. 5in. (B) Lobi people, Burkina Faso. Iron. W 5in. (C) Lobi people(?), Burkina Faso. Copper. W 5in. (D) Dogon people(?), Mali. Excavated near Bandiagara. Native smelted iron. W 5.25in. (E) Baule people, Ivory Coast. Hollow, hinged form. Copper 4.25in

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FACE MASK. Baule people, Ivory Coast. A hornbill bird and the horns of an antelope are perched on top of this mask worn at various non-religious ceremonies, including greetings to visiting dignitaries. A bar inside the mask was held in the wearer’s mouth. Wood, pigment. H 18in. See Bacquart 1998 pp. 49-50.

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CHIEF’S DOUBLE GONG. Mbele people, Cameroon. The handle is wrapped in ndop indigo cloth to which cowrie shells were sewn. Cowries were used as currency and are an insignia of wealth in this context. Iron, cloth, cowries. H 21in.

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CEREMONIAL SWORD (EBEN). Fon people, Benin. The eben is the emblem of Ogun, the god of iron, who is the deity of farmers, hunters, warriors and blacksmiths. As such, he is represented by iron swords and staffs. The eben is carried by Benin chiefs and the Oba (King) to honor ancestors. As in this case, it is often anointed with white pigment libations, a reference to ancestors, that has been applied many times to this very old example. On custom base. Iron, pigment. H 18.25in.

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MAN’S PRESTIGE CLOTH. Baule people, Ivory Coast. This fine hand sewn strip cloth was hand woven by Phillipe Kooame Konan in the village of Asie N’ga Hakro. Some weft blocks are enriched with indigo yarn. Collected in 2003. Cotton. L 100in. W 66.5in.

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TRADITIONAL PRE-COIN “PENNY” CURRENCY. Kissi people, Guinea/ Liberia/ Sierra Leone. Single or bundled twisted iron rods were widely used as currency by the Kissi people. Singly, these rods had lesser value, hence the term ‘penny”, whereas a bundle such as this example was used for important transactions such as bride price. The T-shaped tops were referred to as wings or ears (nileng) and the flat sections at the other end were the feet (kodo) or tail. On custom base. H 23.5in.

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HUSBAND AND WIFE NEAR LIFE-SIZE PUPPETS SEATED AT A FOLDING TABLE. Ewe people, Ghana. Collected in Vakpo village from Edem Akoto who carved them to represent his parents in their home village in the Volta region. The clothing was sewn by a tailor from cloth obtained at the Makola market in Accra and the folding table was made by John Kofi, a carpenter in Vakpo village. (A) Woman wears a blue, black and white cotton checked dress, lace underpants, cowrie shell earrings, a headband, and sandals. Articulated at knees, hips, elbows, shoulder, and neck. Cloth, lace, wood, leather, nails. H 38in. (B) Man wears a brown and beige shirt, pants, and traditional stocking cap, and sandals. His underpants are made from the same cloth as the woman’s dress. Articulated at knees, hips, elbows, shoulders. Wood, cloth, leather, nails. H 37in.

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OLD FEMALE ROD PUPPET DANCE STAFF. Bamana people, Burkina Faso. Collected in a village near the Malian border. She wears a traditional hair style with braids. Arms attached to pulley-like articulations at shoulders are moved by pulling strings. On custom base. Wood, string. H 18 in.

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ADANUDO CHIEF’S ROBE WITH “SCRIPTURES”. Ewe people, Ghana. Collected in Agbozume village. This cloth consists of 19 hand woven, hand sewn strips that are decorated with silk supplementary weft figurative designs (“scriptures”) depicting symbols of royal authority including mighty three engine airplanes (exceedingly rare), stools, buffalos, royal Akan swords, a key and a locket. Each “scripture” has a proverbial meaning. Cotton, silk. L 125in. W 82in. See Gillow 2003 pp. 38-41.

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INGONDA KNIVES (2). Mongo and Konda people, Democratic Republic of Congo. These hand forged ceremonial knives were prestige objects only carried by wealthy men, never used for work but often as weapons. Both probably dating from early 20th century. (A) The central of the three ribs splits to form 2 more short ribs at the splayed end. Both sides of the blade of this example are decorated with spots of faded white pigment. On custom base. Iron, wood. H 20in. (B) The shape of the handle and blade differ from (A). There is a single central rib that branches near the top to form two short ribs. On custom base. Iron, wood. H 17in.

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BLACK AND WHITE BOGOLAN (MUD CLOTH) TEXTILE. Bamana people, Mali. Hand woven, hand sewn country cloth strips with traditional designs hand painted using the bogolan resist method. Cotton. L 60in. W 40in.

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CEREMONIAL HORSE SCULPTURE. Bamana people, Mali. In contrast to the widely known Chi wara antelope head crest, this rare hand held horse form was carried at the end of a pole that fit into a socket behind the head. Various decorative items dangled from holes in the ears. The mouth is open with the tongue protruding as if to speak. Wood. H 30in.

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KASSA WEDDING BLANKET. Peul (Fulani) people, Mali/Niger. Used for warmth and as protection against mosquitoes. Made from seven 8in. hand woven strips L 113in. W 57in.

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WOMEN’S COTTON TIE DYED INDIGO WRAPS (3). All hand woven and hand sewn. Soft texture like old denim. (A) Samo people (?). Extraordinary example depicting helicopters, fish, women in traditional dress, a crocodile, the sun, flowers, birds, a cat and a rabbit. Text reads “Tiendo”. Native repairs. L 84in. W 33in. (B) Lobi people (?). Seven strips, each with 2 rows of arrow head-like dots and chevron design at one end. L 58in. W 40in. (C) Mossi people. Eleven strips with zig-zag design. Tie strap in one corner. L 72in. W 41in. (D) Mossi people. Seven strips with lines of arrow head-like dots. Star design at one end. L 62in. W 33in.

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WAX PRINT CLOTH (3). All wax print cotton from the Malian textile company. (A) Cloth for a dress with school of fish design. L 74in. W 52in. (B) Red hibiscus flowers on orange cloth. Enough for a blouse. L 71in. W 44in. (C) Green cloth celebrating the 47th anniversary of Malian independence on January 20, 2008 and the role of the Malian army in national security depicting tanks, airplanes, and tractors. L 69in. W 43in.

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ODE-LAY SOCIETY HEAD CREST MASK. Temne people, Sierra Leone. Unusual three tier, triple Janus form with identical figures on front and back. At top, women with upraised arms and hands clasped to their coiffure kneel on the heads of fierce rams. The base is formed by Hindu-inspired female busts that are typically found on Temne head crest sculptures. Repainted many times, indicating long history of use. Cloth covering the dancer was hung from nails in the base. Wood, paint, nails. H 27.5in.

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NECK RING. Dogon people (?), Mali. Opens with hinge at bottom. Locking mechanism at top. Ring depicts faces of two bearded men and three cowrie shells. On custom base. Brass. Diameter 8in.