African Art Auction Ending 4/9

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WOMAN’S INDIGO WRAP. Mossi people, Burkina Faso. This cloth consists of 12 hand woven, hand sewn strips with three different warp patterns. The ends have been hemmed by hand. L 67in. W 39in. Cotton.

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Headcrest And Portable Container, Wrapped in leather, “Unique,” East Africa. 24.5" tall. Provenance - Exhibition: “Texture & Form The Art of Personal Objects Selections From The Rosen African Art Collection.” The Pen and Brush Gallery, New York City 2004.

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WOMAN’S INDIGO WRAP. Dogon people, Mali. This very soft, old hand woven cloth consists of 13 hand woven strips with a deep indigo blue color and traditional warp stripe design. L 60in. W 41in. Cotton.

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CEREMONIAL SNAKE-FORM BAYONET/KNIFE. Lobi people, Burkina Faso. Referred to as a “snake knife”, this ceremonial weapon in the form of a serpent was carried by members of the Snake Society” that was banned by the colonial French administration in the Republic of Upper Volta which gained independence in 1984, becoming Burkina Faso. In an effort to suppress the rebellious Snake Society, the administration seized and destroyed many of these ceremonial emblems in the early part of the 20th century. To avoid seizure, some of the snake knives were hidden or buried, as may be the case with this example. On custom base. H 24in. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery in New York 2003.

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African artwork statue of animal with black paint, shell & carved decoration. 46"T. Pickup only.

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HEXAGONAL IRON SHEET CURRENCY. Boubi people, Equatorial Guinea (Malabo Island, formerly Fernando Po}. The Boubi number about 15,000 people living in the mountainous rainforests of Malabo Island. This isolated tribe has until recently worked mostly with stone tools, having little knowledge of forging iron. This piece is said to date from the 1850-1900. On custom base. Ex Roberto Ballarini collection. Iron. H 10.5in.

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Statue of woman with shell & rope decoration, nails in head. 34"Tx6.5"Wx7"D. Pickup only.

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FOUR NIGERIAN HOE BLADES. Hoes were vitally important utilitarian tools in African agrarian societies since survival literally depended on the food farmers grew and could sell. Hoe blades were forged by local blacksmiths in forms that were traditional for a particular tribe and best adapted to local soil conditions. Most hoe blades were attached to short handles that were carved by blacksmiths. (See Lot #17). Hoes were also valued as a form of currency in important transactions like bride wealth. The four offered in this lot show the diverse artistic qualities of Nigerian hoe blades. Each on a custom base. (A) Hausa people, northern Nigeria. This unusual blade is adapted to the sandy soil on the border of the Sahara desert. It was attached to a wooden handle (see picture). Hand forged iron. H 14in. (B) Gombe people. The sharp spine of this cup-shaped blade was inserted into a wooden handle (see picture). In addition to being a useful tool known locally as kwadempe, it was exchanged as bride wealth in marriage contracts. Said to date from early 1900s. Ex Roberto Ballarini collection, Milan Italy. Hand forged iron. H 5.5in. (C) The blade has a serpentine form when seen from the side. Shows considerable wear from use. Old hand forged iron. H 7in. (D) Shovel form. Hand forged iron. H 9in.

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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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RARE AX HEAD “CURRENCY”. Munshi subgroup of Tiv people, Northern Nigeria and Cameroon. Cast in bronze, this nonfunctional ax head-like object was used as “currency” in important transactions such as bride price and the purchase of cattle. This example is decorated with punched and engraved designs. On custom base. H 8in.

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RARE FISH-FORM BUNDU AMULET. Mende people, Sierra Leone. Amulets like this were worn by young women after initiation into the women’s Bundu Society (see photograph). Made from hollowed out goat horn with silver fish tail and cap, three coin-shaped silver medallions, and a silver chain. The fish-form is a very rare, unusual version. These amulets were said to contain “medicine” capable of resisting witches. Horn, silver. Amulet 7in.

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MAN’S MOURNING ROBE. Ashante people, Ghana. The 23 solid black strips are activated by predominantly gold and orange weft blocks, especially at the ends of the cloth. Silk and rayon. 115in x 79in.

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WOMAN’S LONG-HANDLED SICKLE-FORM KNIFE WITH HOOKED BLADE. Tutsi and Hutu people, eastern Congo, Uganda, Rwanda. Can be used as a weapon, but mostly used to knock down fruit from trees. Well-worn wood handle wrapped in copper wire. On custom base. Hand forged iron, wood, copper. H 22.5in.

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CEREMONIAL BLACKSMITH’S HAMMER. Northern Nigeria. Given to a young blacksmith to commemorate completion of his apprenticeship. Shaft wrapped in single piece of hand sewn leather. Handle shows excellent patina from use. On custom base. Wood, leather, iron. H 22in.

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FIVE OLD BRASS GOLDWEIGHTS. Ghana. Gold weights were used in West Africa to weigh gold dust on a balance scale for centuries. The earliest weights had geometric forms reflecting the Islamic aversion to figural sculpture. Weights such as these depicting animals, people, and objects appeared in the 17th century. These weights date from the late 1800s. (A) Flintlock rifle. H 3.5in. (B) Ring with chameleon H 1.5in. (C) Cup with handle. H 1.25in. (D) Akan warrior with sword. H 2in. (E) Fan-shaped pendant. H 2in.

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Spoon, “Very old,” with carved horn handles and remnants of paint, West Africa. 21" tall. Provenance - Exhibition: “Texture & Form The Art of Personal Objects Selections From The Rosen African Art Collection.” The Pen and Brush Gallery, New York City 2004.

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FIGURATIVE GOLD WEIGHTS (2). Ashante people, Ghana. (A) Ashante queen seated on a traditional stool with an unusual disc-shaped pedestal. H3.25in. (B) Spoon in the form of an old wise man with a long, braided beard. H3.25in. Both brass, made by the lost wax method, dating from late 19th century.

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SERPENTINE CEREMONIAL WEAPON. Tusyan/Toussian/Tusia people, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. Facing an insurrection by the Tusyan people, the French colonial administration banned their possession of weapons. As a form of resistance, the native Snake Society adopted this S-shaped bayonet form that could be carried on one’s shoulder. On custom base. Iron. H31in. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery New York 2003.

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CEREMONIAL CLUB-SHAPED KNIFE WITH FUR POMMEL. Poto people, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire). The vaguely anthropomorphic blade with three struts at its base, has a finely engraved asymmetric design. The shaft of the handle is tightly wrapped with copper wire and the pommel is a ball of fur from a dangerous feline predator such as a leopard. It is reported that magical plant material contained within the fur ball gives the knife exceptional power. Markings on the blade indicate membership in a particular secret society. Although primarily carried on ceremonial occasions, Poto knifes were also battle weapons. Dated 1920s. Iron, wood, copper wire, fur. H25.5in.

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WEDDING BLANKET. Tuareg people, Niger and Mali. Used for warmth and protection against mosquitoes. The Tuareg are nomadic people who roam the southern Sahara. Within the past decade this region has become a no-mans-land because of Islamic terrorism. This blanket was collected in 2005 before the region became inaccessible, a situation that makes it virtually impossible to obtain these textiles today. Made from ten, 6-inch wide hand-woven, hand sewn strips that are decorated with dots, tufts, squares, and hourglass shapes. Cotton. 60in x 140in.