A very rare group from Ketu, Benin, probably used as a divination tray or as a display piece for an important Babalawo. Diameter 52 cm, H. 30 cm. Mid 20th century. The hand of one figure has been replaced.
Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands
Ex Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg
Guy van Rijn archive: ao-0102485-005 with comments from Ursula Voorhuis and Hans Witte.
The scene depicts the consultation of the Ifa oracle by a woman. The Babalawo (father of the secret) or oracle priest in charge sits to the right of the woman. He has taken 16 palm nuts from the ‘Agere Ifa’ (cup for palm nuts), that stands beside him and is about throw the nuts from his left to his right hand. If he drops one nut in the process, he will make two marks in the wood dust on the oracle tray before him, if he misses two nuts, he will make one mark. After two sets of four throws, the result on the tray will indicate to him the oracle verses he will have to recite to his client. The third person that seems to supervise the proceedings is also a Babalawo and even an important one, judging from the thick beaded necklace that hangs over his chest, with an attachment from his neck. It seems that his right hand held a staff, probably an Ifa tapper that is used to tick on the tray in order to attract the attention of Eshu, the messenger.
Hardwood group depicting a horse rider surrounded by a kneeling figure and two drum players.
H. 19 cm. First half of the 20th century. Some missing parts on the kneeling figure.
Ex coll. Ursula Heijs Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands.
Ex Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, Germany.
Impressive figure of 63 cm. height. Excellent age wear and patina with remains of old infestations.
Ex. Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam
This item will be exhibited at the Tribal Art Fair Amsterdam, October 25th-27th
www.tribalartfair.nl
Igbomina region, Omu Aran village. Female figure with scarifications and two bronze bracelets. Early 20th century.
Provenance: Ursula Voorhuis, The Netherlands. She owns one of the largest Yoruba collections in the world.
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Southeast Asian : Folk Art : Pre 1940
item #1433369
Made of hardwood. Early 20th century. Laos is famous for its ‘tribal’ Buddhas. They were made by village carvers and donated in large quantities to the temples.
H. 55 cm. Condition: remains of polychromy, age wear, cracks.
Early 20th century male mask with scarifications. H. 31 cm.
Ex David Utzon Frank, Denmark.
Ex Srdjan Sremac, The Hague.
Ashanti doll, 2nd quarter of the 20th century, by a known carver. See Ron van Doorn - Herbert M. Cole : Akua’Ba Asante Wednesday Child, page 154-155. H. 24,5 cm. Provenance: private collection UK.
Rare and early Baule figure, made of hardwood with very fine carving. Made by a known carver. H. 32,5 cm. Early 20th century. Lovely age wear and great patina. Provenance: private collection UK.
Anthropomorpic cup, depicting a standing female. H. 21,5 cm. Rare and early piece.
Repair to the rim of the cup.
Provenance: Dutch private collection.
Elegant figure with great age. H. 30 cm. Condition: old worm holes. Early 20th century.
Provenance:
Christophe Rolley, Paris,
Srdjan Sremac, Den Haag.
Rare and early mask, ca. 1st quarter of the 20th century. H. 43 cm.
Ex coll. Patrick Lemaire, Brussels.
Ex private collection Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
A lovely hairpin, decorated with blue kingfisher feathers and ornaments in amber and jade. China, late 19th/early 20th century.
Length 16 cm. Condition: wear to the feathers.
A lovely hairpin, decorated with kingfisher feathers, coral and ornaments in amber and jade. China, late 19th/early 20th century.
Length 12 cm Width 12 cm. Condition: damage to the jade ornament on the right, age wear to the feathers.
A very nice pair of gilt brass hairpins in the shape of butterflies, decorated with kingfisher feathers, jade, glass and amber. China, late 19th/early 20th century. H. 10 cm W. 8,5 cm each. Condition: expected age wear.
Chinese hairpin, decorated with kingfisher feathers, amber, jade and glass. China, late 19th/early 20th century. H. 15 cm W. 9 cm. Condition: slight damage to the jade ornament on the left, age wear to the feathers.
A wonderful gilt brass kingfisher hairpin in the shape of a bird, holding a chain with an agath leaf in it's mouth. China, late 19th/early 20th century. L: 14 cm. W. m3,5 cm.
Condition: wear to the feathers.
A pair of gilt brass hairpins, decorated with kingfisher feathers and glass beads. China, late 19th/early 20th century. H. 16 cm W. 13 cm. Condition: the kingfisher feathers are mostly gone.
A very nice gilt brass hairpin in the shape of a butterfly, decorated with kingfisher feathers. The wings made of jade or nephrite, the body with fine filigree work. China, late 19th/early 20th century. H. 15 cm W. 6 cm. Condition: expected age wear.