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LOT 2334
West African Bronze Figure of a Musician
19TH-20TH CENTURY A.D.
3 5/8 in. (89 grams, 93 mm).
Figure of a musician playing a type of xylophone with a beater in each hand. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom an old Oxford, UK, collection.
From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
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AUCTIONS:
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African Ashanti Bronze Snake Gold Weight
Akan Tribe, 19th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
D-shaped in section with impressed segmentation to the back, raised head. 144 grams, 25 cm
From an old Oxford, UK, collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
African Wooden Ceremonial 'Maiden Spirit' Mask
Punu Tribe, early-mid 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A wooden mask with traces of white facial pigment and a raffia collar. 851 grams, 36.5 cm
From Gabon, West Africa. From an old Norwich, UK, collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
Punu masks represent idealised female ancestors' faces. The white colour of the mask is genderless and a symbol for peace, deities, spirits of the dead, and the afterlife. It is the predominating colour in funeral celebrations and memorials. The masks were worn during funerals. They appeared also in the magical rites whose function was to unmask sorcerers. The masks have realistic, mostly white but sometimes black faces with protruding pursed lips, globular protruding eyes incised with a curve, high-domed foreheads, and characteristic rigid high coiffures reflecting the Punu women's hair styles. The masks often have an oriental expression, but no such influence has been established. Many Punu masks can be recognized by raised diamond-shape scarification marks on the foreheads and temples. -
African Wooden 'Akuaba Doll' Fertility Figure
Ashanti Tribe, late 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Carved from light-coloured, lightweight wood in traditional form and dyed black; large, round head, with striated hairstyle to the centre, large eyes and three short lines representing the typical tribal scarification marks on the forehead; tapering body and stub arms, tiered base. 532 grams, 46.5 cm
From Ghana, West Africa. From the private collection of Mr N.J., Leicester, UK; acquired circa 2010. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
Among the Ashanti people in Ghana, women hoping for offspring carry these ‘Akuaba dolls’ in their clothes. Traditionally, these ‘Akuaba’ have a large, round, flat head that is reminiscent of its origin as a representation of the moon goddess, which is associated with fertility. Once the ‘Akuaba’ figure has fulfilled its purpose, the mother of the desired child places it on her domestic altar, where it is worshipped in a shrine, or she passes it on to the next generation.
