African Art Collection Auction Ending 9/28

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MIA STYLE THROWING KNIFE. Sara people, northern Chad. This variant of the F-form (see Lot #53) is illustrative of the regional differences in throwing knives among the Sara people. Hand forged with incised parallel linear markings on the curved section of the blade. On custom base. H 26.5in. Iron. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery New York 2003.

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BLANKET WITH BOLD CHECKERBOARD PATTERN. Mossi people, Burkina Faso. Asymmetric design in 7 hand woven, hand sewn strips with fringe. L 75in. W 35in. Cotton.

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HUNTER’S FETISH. Lobi people, Burkina Faso. In the shape of a bow and arrow. Elaborate engraved designs on bow. Hunters believed that this shrine was inhabited by a spirit that could bring them success. Rituals were performed with the fetish before and after a hunt. On custom base. Bow 9.5in. Arrow 10.25in. Iron.

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WEDDING BLANKET. Fulani people, northern Ghana. This blanket is composed of 20 narrow, hand woven, fringed strips that have been assembled in checkerboard and square designs commonly found in Fulani textiles. The weaving of the strips is exceptionally tight. The use of rose, orange, pale blue, grey, and beige creates a harmonious design in which the squares symbolize family unity. Hand embroidered design accents enliven the overall appearance. L 94in. W 49in. Cotton.

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CEREMONIAL SNAKE-FORM BAYONET/KNIFE. Lobi people, Burkina Faso. Referred to as a “snake knife”, this ceremonial weapon in the form of a serpent was carried by members of the Snake Society” that was banned by the colonial French administration in the Republic of Upper Volta which gained independence in 1984, becoming Burkina Faso. In an effort to suppress the rebellious Snake Society, the administration seized and destroyed many of these ceremonial emblems in the early part of the 20th century. To avoid seizure, some of the snake knives were hidden or buried, as may be the case with this example. On custom base. H 24in. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery in New York 2003.

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BEARDED ELDER MALE ROD PUPPET. Bamana people, Burkina Faso. Nicely sculpted head. Arms articulated at shoulders by pulley mechanism when strings on either side are pulled downward. The senior status of the man is indicated by his beard. Entire figure, except arms, is sculpted from a single block of wood. On custom base. H 18.5in. Wood, string, iron pins. Exhibited at Pen and Brush Gallery New York 2005.

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WOMEN’S WRAPS (3). Burkina Faso. All very soft from repeated washing. (A) Dafing people. Hand sewn with indigo and white hand woven warp stripe design in 13 strips. L 59in. W 41in. Cotton. (B) Mossi people. Unusual combination of 6 strips of hand sewn indigo tie-dyed and one strip of brightly colored print cloth. L 55in. W 36in. Cotton. (C) Bobo people. Six strips with grey, white and pale indigo blue warp stripes. L 57in. W 34in. Cotton.

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WEAVING SWORDS (3). Yoruba people, Nigeria. All hand carved wood. Used to separate warp threads. Each on custom base. (A) Small key hole eye in handle. L 38in. (B) Handle has amulet with X. L 36.5. (C) Knob on handle. L 33.5in.

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KNEELING FEMALE ROYAL ANCESTER FIGURE. Dengese people, Democratic Republic of Congo. The extensive geometric scarifications on the face, body and limbs of this finely carved sculpture are typical for the Dengese people, a tribe of the original Kuba Kingdom. Female Dengese figures are much less common than male figures representing the King. H 14in. Wood, pigment.

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ADINKRA MOURNING CLOTH. Ashante people, Ghana. This cloth worn at a funeral or memorial, service is a kind of shiny beaten cotton black damask textile with red diamonds within diamonds designs printed using adinkra stamps. The inner diamond represents the home and the outer diamond a fence surrounding the home. This is a variant of Eban, the adinkra symbol for love and security. The cloth was created by and collected from Abraham Kwateng, an adinkra cloth maker, in Ntonso Ghana in 2004. L 280in. W 100in.

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SLING SHOT. Baule people, Ivory Coast. Male figure with crossed arms. On custom base. H 7.5in. Wood.