Silver-Coloured Metal Ring Collection

Depicted squatting and displaying scarification marks around the chest, median crested coiffure with hands resting on the knees. 1.9 kg, 69 cm high



From Côte d'Ivoire/Ghana. From an old Newbury, UK, ethnographic collection.

The Senufo peoples are distributed in West Africa in the area of Cote d'Ivoire and Mali. They are famed for their woodcarving skills as well as their musical abilities.

Restrung; composed of cream, beige and umber-coloured ribbed terracotta beads with some cylindrical beads. 61 grams total, 68-73 cm long



UK gallery, early 2000s.

There are in Africa two main different beads used for the nacklaces: the mangour and the rougad-el-fagah. The first is a round glass bead exported from Galilee, green, or yellow, or black and speckled. The rougad-el-fagah is larger, smoother and more beautiful. The mangour is about the size of an ordinary nut and the rougad-el-fagah of a larger nut. Both are of terracotta covered with a glaze like that of faience. But the rougad-el-fagah is of more perfect work, better glazed and looks most agreeable and expensive. The mangour is rough, crinkled on the surface and grossly glazed. It is also sold cheap.

One square in section, twisted about its own axis; one with carinated profile; two of herringbone construction; each with the ends wound round the shank. 164 grams total, 71-73 mm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.