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LOT 2379
African Wooden Tugubele Figure
SENUFO TRIBE, 20TH CENTURY A.D.
8 7/8 in. (131 grams, 22.6 cm).
Carved in the round standing nude female on a socle base, with crested hairstyle and red painted detailing. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.
From an old Shrewsbury, UK, ethnographic collection.
From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
Such relatively small figures are employed by the soothsayers of the Senufo people as ‘helpers’ during their oracles and prophecies.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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West African Bronze Figure of a Musician
19th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
Figure of a musician playing a type of xylophone with a beater in each hand. 89 grams, 93 mm
From an old Oxford, UK, collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
African Wooden Ceremonial 'Maiden Spirit' Face Mask
Igbo Tribe, early 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
A mask with long narrow face, painted white; narrow protruding sharp nose; slit eyes; closed mouth; small ears, arching eyebrows, incised hair design and above this is an elaborate openwork construction in brown, yellow and white. 1.4 kg, 56 cm
From South-West Nigeria, West Africa. From an old Newbury, UK, ethnographic collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
Agbogho mmwo, or "maiden spirit," masks are worn by men at festivals that honour important deities. They represent the Igbo ideal of female beauty: small, balanced features, elaborate hairstyles, and delicate tattoos. The men who dance in agbogho mmwo masks wear colourful, tight-fitting fibre costumes, entertaining the crowd with exaggerated versions of women's dances. -
Brass Kano Pendant
Lobi Tribe, mid 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7
Deltoid in plan and with slight midrib, shank with knop finial for attachment. 21 grams, 98 mm
From Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. From an old Derby, UK, specialist collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
Lobi arts also include a wide variety of small human and animal images, implements, and more abstract symbols in copper alloy and iron. Some of these are worn as jewelry and some appear on shrines.
