African Art Auction Ending 2/19

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PRESTIGE DOOR (MGBOEZI). Igbo people, Nigeria. Elaborately carved doors of honor such as this were placed at the main entrance to the home of a person of high importance in a community. This example, dating from the late 19th century, was carved from traditional African oak (Milicia excelsa), a hard wood of the type which is associated with ?maleness?. The door separates the sanctuary of the family home from the profane world of the village. Geometric designs are typical of an Igbo prestige door. In this case the central circle represents the nuclear family. On custom base. Wood. H 54in W20.5in. Ex Eric Robertson collection. Purchased at the African Heritage Auction 5/31/02 Lot #63.

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ELEPHANT MASK (MBAP MTENG). Bamileke people, Grasslands area of Cameroon. The name of this mask means ?animal with large ears?. The masks appear at the dance of the elephant (tso), the most important and spectacular Bamileke ritual. The elephant symbolizes the power and authority of the king. The designs on the front and back panels have symbolic significance and are created with small, colorful beads that are individually sewn to a cloth backing. This example is adorned with an upper row of three crocodiles and a lower row of three human figures in white representing ancestors. There is an inverted double gong above the central human figure, indicating royal status. On custom base. Cloth, glass beads. H 60in.

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PRESTIGIOUS BLACKSMITH?S TONGS. Nupe people, Nigeria. Suspended by a chain, these tongs hung around a blacksmith?s neck as a symbol of his important status in the community. Worn on ceremonial occasions and rarely used in his work. In this excellent example that has been mounted like the form of a human figure, the gracefully curved ends of the handles are wrapped with copper. Ceremonial tongs were highly prized by their owner and rarely relinquished, but they were sometimes offered in exchange in important transactions. On custom base. Hand forged iron with iron chain, copper. H 17in.

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ROYAL ELEPHANT FETISH FIGURE. Fon people, Benin. The elephant has been emblematic of the power of Fon Kings for centuries. One tusk from each elephant killed by a hunter belonged to the King, and the King had the right to purchase the other tusk. Sculptures of elephants and other animals symbolic of royal power such as the leopard were placed around the royal court and at altars. This unusual example, dating from the late 19th or early 20th century was created with hammered sheets of silver/nickel alloy tacked over a wood form that may contain fetish material. The brown iron eyes refer to the King?s intense, strong gaze. Silver/nickel sheeting, tacks, wood form, iron. H 13.5in W 24in. Another example of a Fon elephant sculpture can be found on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Also see ?Critic?s Notebook? in the New York Times 12/26/03.

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TWISTED PENNY CURRENCY BUNDLES. Kissi people, Guinea/Liberia/Ivory Coast. T-shaped iron rods with a twisted shaft that terminate at one end in lateral pointed appendages symbolic of wings or ears (nileng) were widely used as currency among the Kissi people, even as late as the 1950s. During the colonial period, one rod had the value of a British penny, hence the name Kissi penny. Bundles of these rods are still used as bride wealth in traditional marriage ceremonies. The flat, round or oval enlargement at the non-T end is considered to be the foot (kodo) or tail. The rods came in various lengths. The structural features of the rod were considered an indicator of the quality of the iron as demonstrated by the ability to twist the shaft, draw the wings out to fine points, and flatten the foot into a thin plate. The value of Kissi pennies was increased when they were forged into bundles which played an important role as symbols of wealth and prestige. When given as bride wealth, the bundle signifies the bond of marriage. Dated 1930s. Each on custom base. Hand forged iron. (A) Two tall rods H 21in. (B) Seven short slender rods H 13.5in. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery NY 2003.

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BUJI (SOMBE) CURRENCY BUNDLE. Kissi people, Guinea/Liberia. Buji were precursors to Kissi pennies and date from the 18th century. Both were referred to as quenze by the Kissi people. Buji are short rods that resemble a human thigh bone (femur) averaging 8 to 10 inches in length. The delicate, straight shaft is U-shaped in cross section whereas the cross section of a Kissi penny is square or slightly rectangular and twisted. Individual buji were used as currency and in bundles they were given as bride wealth to the family of a prospective bride. This bundle tied with rope resemble a small bouquet of flowers. On custom base. Hand forged iron, rope. H 10in.

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OUTSTANDING ?THROWING? KNIFE (SENGESE). Matakam and Kapsiki people, Cameroon. The Matakam, Kapsiki and other tribes living in the Mandara Mountains are known for having developed this F-form knife which is too heavy to be easily thrown and was used as a hand held weapon by mounted warriors. The curved blade is sharp on both edges. The knee below the blade was used as a club. The knife was carried by a thong strung between the loop on the back edge and a ring at the base of the handle. There are engraved designs on the curved part of the shaft, the knee, spine and the semilunar blade at the top. The handle is wrapped with leather cord over wood slats. On custom base. Hand forged iron, wood, leather. H22in.

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CRUCIFORM COPPER INGOT CURRENCY (HANDA) AND MALACHITE COPPER ORE FROM A KATANGA MINE. Luba people, Katanga region of Congo. (A) These cross-shaped copper ingots were produced and used as currency in the copper-rich Katanga region of the Congo and to the East in what is now Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The molten copper was poured into molds carved in soapstone, made from fired clay, or created in wet sand. The surface of the cross reveals the texture of the mold in which it was created. There is a characteristic raised rib on one side where the ribs cross. Note the distinctly red color of the copper where surface oxidation has been erased which is the source of the term red gold to describe copper. Handas were in use until the 1920s. It is reported that a bride could be obtained with 14 handas, one goat and a female slave. As late as 1907, a male slave cost 3 to 5 handas. On custom base. (B) Malachite copper ore with beautiful bright green oxidized patina. From the Mashamba West Mine in Katanga province, Congo. Weight 12.8 oz.

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RARE VERTICAL ASAFO MILITA FLAG. Fante people, Ghana. This rare vertical flag depicts Srahmantin, a giant, powerful female bush spirit who protects her offspring and friends from their enemies. She is nursing two unidentified bush animals. The Company that owns this flag claims to be protected by this bush spirit, as expressed in the proverb, ?A good spirit always looks after her young?. This flag warns rivals not to attack because the Company is protected by a powerful spirit. Less than 5% of Asafo flags are vertical. The canton is the Ghana national flag. The figures are hand sewn with embroidered details. Cotton textile. Collected in Ghana. 54in x 37in. Exhibited at the Free Library Gallery Philadelphia 2012, SMA Fathers Museum of African Art Tenafly NJ 2013 and the University of Memphis Museum TN 2015. Published in ?Emblems of Power. Asafo Flags from Ghana? 2013 p87 Fig 90. THIS BOOK IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE AUTHORS AT ppr2001@med.cornell.edu.

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10 RARE ASAFO FLAG BEARER/DANCER'S SKIRT. Fante people, Ghana. The man who carries and performs with an Asafo flag (frankaa) is the frankaakitsanyi. This is a very important position in the Asafo Company that requires long training as an apprentice and great agility (see picture). The skirt may be made from plain or dyed grass, or sewn from fine, colorful fabric which in this case is red velvet with satin bands. H 22in.

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TWO SUPI WHIPS. Fante people, Ghana. The Supi is the commanding officer or Captain of an Asafo Company. He is the custodian of Asafo regalia including flags, money and military material. The whip, which in the past was used to keep members of the Company under control, is the emblem of the Supi?s authority. The whips consist of braided leather thongs joined at the top to form a loop handle that fits around the Supi?s wrist. These whips, being an extremely important part of Asafo regalia, are rarely available to collectors. Leather. H 25in, 26in. See Fig 5, P 29 in ?Emblems of Power. Asafo Flags from Ghana?.

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EIGHT 17TH TO 19TH CENTURY GOLD WEIGHTS. Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, and the surrounding region is naturally rich in gold that occurs mainly in the form of small particles or dust. Gold was an important form of currency in the region for many centuries and by the 18th century it was used in virtually all transactions from buying yams in a market to affairs of state. Every person engaged in any form of commercial activity (buying and selling) needed to have equipment for measuring and weighing gold ?dust?, including a set of weights. Many brass weights were cast by the lost wax method specifically for this purpose. The 2 smallest weights in this lot, one of which has a swastika motif, date from the 17th century. The other 6 weights, including square and triangular fortress shapes, date from the 19th century. Weight varies from 0.5oz to 1.7oz.

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HEAD CREST MASK. Temne people, Sierra Leone. A deer head with branching horns stands above a female bust at the base of this Ode-Lay Hunters Society mask. Deer of this sort with a rack of horns are not indigenous to Africa. It has been reported that in the past, members of the Ode-Lay Hunters Society wore head crests made from the freshly decapitated heads of prey they had killed. In time, this practice fell into disfavor with the British colonial administration and carved or papier maché replicas of animal heads were substituted, or real animal heads preserved by taxidermy were sent to Sierra Leone by expatriates living in the United States. When the importation of preserved deer heads was outlawed, carved copies such as this lot were substituted. Nails in the base were used to attach the mask to a supporting armature and for suspending a costume that covered the performer. Wood, paint, nails. H 26.5in. Published in ?Masks from West and Central Africa? p70 Fig 86. Exhibited at the Free Library Gallery Philadelphia 2012.

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TWO EAST AFRICAN HEADRESTS. Kenya. Each is carved from a single block with rich patina that reveals the fine grain of the wood. (A) Makan or Me?en people. The bilobed surface is supported by a pedestal that is balanced on a hemispheric base. A braided leather loop for carrying is attached to the pedestal. A ring of very small tacks encircles a slightly larger tack on the top marking the center of the rings of the wood grain. Four small rings of aluminum wire are attached to the leather loop. This headrest (which also served as a stool) was carved from the dense heart wood of a tree to ensure durability. Wood, leather, metal. H 6.75in. (B) Turkana people. This arch-shaped headrest was carved along the wood grain which is beautifully displayed along the sides of the legs. A thong for carrying was passed through holes in each leg. The legs are splayed for greater stability. Wood. H 6.5in.

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OLD MANILLA-FORM BRACELETS. Tuareg people, Niger. These C-shaped bracelets dating from the mid-1800s were used as currency for major transactions as well as for adornment. The ends (feet) are faceted to simulate amulets, a feature of Tuareg bracelets, and have symbolic markings. Each on a custom base. (A) The shaft is faceted and has linear dots on the under surface near the feet. Brass. H 3in. (B) Shaft is twisted. Markings worn away from feet. Inner surface of shaft worn from use. Copper alloy. H 3.5in.

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RARE ARON ARABAI CHIEFTANCY MASK. Temne people, Sierra Leone. This mask represents the protective spirit or Karfi of the clan of a Chief. Each ruling clan has one mask which is present when the Chief is installed. In some cases, the brass face was attached to a leather helmet, but in this instance the face has been sewn into a hood of hand-woven country cloth. Writing in 1991 WA Hart (see referenced article), who studied these masks in Sierra Leone, noted that ?no chieftancy mask, so far as I can discover, is in any museum collection in Europe or the United States?. This example has paired embossed scarifications on the forehead, cheeks and jaw. The ears and nose are separate pieces attached to the face, a typical feature of the Aron Arabai mask. Brass. H 10.5in.

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RARE CURRENCY HOE. Koma people, Nigeria, northern Cameroon. Collected in the Mambila district (now the Sardauna province) on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. Used as dowry payment and as a farming implement when attached to a wooden handle. On custom base. Hand forged iron. H 16in.

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U-SHAPED CALABAR ROD CURRENCY. Esu, Efik, Ibo and other people, southern Nigeria. Copper rods measuring about 3 ft in length were introduced into Africa for trade by the English in the 17th century. They were used throughout the Cross River region. In the early 1600s, a male slave cost 23 rods and by the end of the 1600s a male slave cost 38 rods. The Calabar rod became a unit of measure even after they were replaced as an item of trade by iron bars at the end of the 19th century. This example consists of six rods each measuring about 3 ft long and 1/4in in diameter. Artfully presented on a custom base. Ex Roberto Ballarini collection, Milan Italy.

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BRIDE WEALTH CURRENCY WITH DOUBLE COILS. Mafa and Matakam people, Cameroon. Both date from the late 19th or early 20th century. Each on custom base. Hand forged iron. (A) H 5in. Ex Roberto Ballarini collection Milan Italy. (B) Iron H 4.5in.

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BIFURCATED SERPENTINE FETISH. Chamba people, Nigeria. Possibly related to the Mami Wata cult involving worship of snakes. Dated around 1860 or earlier. On custom base. Hand forged iron. H 29in. Ex Martial Bronsin collection Brussels Belgium.