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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. Pickup only.

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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.

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PRIZED MAN’S CEREMONIAL ROBE NAMED “OHENE AFORO HYEN”. Ashante people, Ghana. The title of the design of this cloth means “the King has boarded a ship”. This refers to an event in 1937 before Ghana gained independence from Great Britain. After putting down a rebellion by the Ashante people, the Ashante King, Prempeh I, was captured and sent into exile in the Seychelles Islands on a ship. This event not only signaled the end of the Ashante Kingdom, but it also broke the centuries-old tradition that the King would not cross the Pra River (which he had to cross in his journey into exile). The cloth was collected in Bonwire, the center of Ashante weaving. The weaver was Nana Mensah Abrampa and the estimated age is 80 years. Silk. 77in x 123.5in.

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TWISTED TRIPLE COIL KNOTTED CURRENCY BRACELET. Igbo people, Nigeria. Bracelets made from twisted metal rods were masterpieces created by Nigerian blacksmiths in the late 19th century. Heavy rings such as this piece were reserved for important trades and kept as a store of wealth. The end of the twisted rod is defined by a hairpin turn where the rod doubles back on itself. The knot is a symbol of permanence. The skill required to create this bracelet free hand from a hot copper rod may no longer exist. On custom base. Oxidized copper. H2in. Diameter 4in. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery New York 2003.

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RASP GONG. Lobi people, Burkina Faso. Rasp gongs, made from wood or metal, are musical instruments used throughout Africa, especially the Western and Central regions. They are hollow, tubular forms that differ from simple gongs in that part of the external surface has a rough, striated or notched texture which produces a rasping sound when rubbed with a wood or metal stick. They may also be played by beating the outside with the same rod. This old example was made from hand forged iron that is now heavily oxidized. Note the dentate surfaces along the open edges of the tube. A wooden handle was attached to the metal flange in the center. On custom base. Hand forged iron. L11in.

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LONG SICKLE=SHAPED WEAPON. Ngombe people, Congo. The blade is sharp on the concave edge of the straight shaft. The curved tip is sharp on both edges. This hand forged blade is set in a wood handle that is wrapped with iron wire. A loop at the end of the handle protrudes through the bottom of the handle. Black smith’s hammer marks apparent. Indistinct chevron design on shaft of blade. Dated to 1930s. On custom base. Iron, wood. H23in.