Post Medieval Bronze Face Escutcheon

Iron flat-section shaft with three tiered cross-bars, the two lowest each with five iron lamp-bowls to the forward face; above, a U-shaped bar with a lamp bowl at each upper end; top of the shaft developing to an anthropomorphic torso with ellipsoid head and two narrow arms raised vertically; chain around the neck with hand-forged extinguishing spoon; mounted on a square base; Dogon, Mali, workmanship. 6.25 kg total, 132 cm including stand



From the private collection of Dr Hans-Joachim Koloss, Berlin, Germany, 1975-2002. Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany, auction 279, no.410. Accompanied by a copy of the Gorny & Mosch invoice and illustrated catalogue listing. Accompanied by a copy of the German cultural export licence. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The figure is probably a Nommo, a primordial ancestral spirit in Dogon cosmogony. A Nommo is usually considered to be amphibious, hermaphroditic and fish-like. They are typically depicted in Dogon art with a humanoid upper torso, and a fish-like lower torso and tail.

Painted onto a pair of gessoed wooden doors for the iconostasis, pentagonal in form with applied beading to the edges; Left: gilt field with advancing winged figure in ankle-length robes holding a slender wand and with thick curly hair, legend 'Ο ΑΡΧΗ' and 'ΓΑΒΡΗΛ'; Right: similar with Mary in floor-length blue robe and crimson mantle, holding a drop-spindle and winder, with legend 'Ω/MP'; representing the Annunciation of the Virgin by the Archangel Gabriel; mounted on a velvet-covered wooden frame. 9.15 kg total, 93.5 x 68.5 cm including frame



Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12552-231939. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Composed of ribbed cylindrical beads interspersed with annular beads and teardrop-shaped pendant, central feature a large spherical bead. 33 grams, 42.5 cm



Ex London, UK, gentleman, 2000s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.