Ekoi, Nigeria: A very old head made of wood, covered with antelope leather, used as a dance crest.
Ekoi, Nigeria: A very old head made of wood, covered with antelope leather, used as a dance crest.
The Ekoi (or Ejagham) live along the river Cross in Southeast Nigeria, on the border of Cameroon. In former times, their warriors are said to have danced with the actual heads of their killed enemies. However, this cult changed long before the arrival of the Europeans on their territory: since then these heads carved in wood and covered with antelope leather have been used for dances during fertility rites and funerals. The present, typical Ekoi dance crest, is very old. The wood head is covered with black-dyed antelope leather. A red line crosses the forehead reaching the nose and mouth. The hairstyle is made of glued real hair. The head is tied to an original, old, plaited 'basket' made of black rattan stripes. During their performance, dancers carry on their head the ‘basket’ and the head. A very old specimen with good usage patina and age damage (some portions of the leather coating missing on both sides). Between the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century; H: c. 25 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Rudolf Leopold, Vienna.
Expert: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
24.03.2014 - 16:00
- Odhadní cena:
-
EUR 2.000,- do EUR 4.000,-
Ekoi, Nigeria: A very old head made of wood, covered with antelope leather, used as a dance crest.
The Ekoi (or Ejagham) live along the river Cross in Southeast Nigeria, on the border of Cameroon. In former times, their warriors are said to have danced with the actual heads of their killed enemies. However, this cult changed long before the arrival of the Europeans on their territory: since then these heads carved in wood and covered with antelope leather have been used for dances during fertility rites and funerals. The present, typical Ekoi dance crest, is very old. The wood head is covered with black-dyed antelope leather. A red line crosses the forehead reaching the nose and mouth. The hairstyle is made of glued real hair. The head is tied to an original, old, plaited 'basket' made of black rattan stripes. During their performance, dancers carry on their head the ‘basket’ and the head. A very old specimen with good usage patina and age damage (some portions of the leather coating missing on both sides). Between the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century; H: c. 25 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Rudolf Leopold, Vienna.
Expert: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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Horká linka kupujících
Po-Pá: 10.00 - 17.00
kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| Aukce: | Mimoevropské a domorodé um?ní |
| Typ aukce: | Salónní aukce |
| Datum: | 24.03.2014 - 16:00 |
| Místo konání aukce: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Prohlídka: | 18.03. - 24.03.2014 |