Tribal Carved Wooden Swazi Mirror

Made from a white-and-brown goat skin with a rope closure. 573 grams, 85 cm



Collected in 2002 from Natal, South Africa. Ex Ian Knight collection, the world's leading author on Zulu history and culture. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985.

Woven from Ncema grass with fabric backing, decorated with polychrome beads arranged in the 'mashunka' pattern, and with brass studs at each finial. 300 grams total, belt: 84 cm long



Collected September 2003 in the mountains west of Pomeroy, in the Msinga district of Zululand. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985.

Flat-section shaft with three tiered cross-bars, the two lowest each with five 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. 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.

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.