Namji (or Dowayo), Cameroon: a large, so-called ‘Namji doll’, with elaborate ornamentation of glass beads.
Namji (or Dowayo), Cameroon: a large, so-called ‘Namji doll’, with elaborate ornamentation of glass beads.
Such dolls are carved by the young men of the Namji (also called Dowayo) and given as a gift to the girls they admire. If the girl accepts the gift, this is taken as promise to marry. From this point on, she carries the so-called ‘Namji doll’ with her – as a fertility doll, as it were. The present, typical ‘Namji doll’ is unusually large, has a head with crested coiffure and eyes of glass beads, as well as a long neck wrapped with chains of glass beads. On the chest and back it displays recessed, linear, geometric reliefs. In addition it displays on its abdomen chains of coloured glass beads, on both arms leather armbands with leather pendants and white glass beads, as well as a loincloth of black leather. A fine, stylistically perfect piece, with old usage patina. No damage.
Height: 41 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
According to information supplied by the consigner, this object was acquired by him ‘in situ’ in Cameroon in the 1970s. Austrian private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
20.02.2017 - 14:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 650.-
Namji (or Dowayo), Cameroon: a large, so-called ‘Namji doll’, with elaborate ornamentation of glass beads.
Such dolls are carved by the young men of the Namji (also called Dowayo) and given as a gift to the girls they admire. If the girl accepts the gift, this is taken as promise to marry. From this point on, she carries the so-called ‘Namji doll’ with her – as a fertility doll, as it were. The present, typical ‘Namji doll’ is unusually large, has a head with crested coiffure and eyes of glass beads, as well as a long neck wrapped with chains of glass beads. On the chest and back it displays recessed, linear, geometric reliefs. In addition it displays on its abdomen chains of coloured glass beads, on both arms leather armbands with leather pendants and white glass beads, as well as a loincloth of black leather. A fine, stylistically perfect piece, with old usage patina. No damage.
Height: 41 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
According to information supplied by the consigner, this object was acquired by him ‘in situ’ in Cameroon in the 1970s. Austrian private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 20.02.2017 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 11.02. - 20.02.2017 |