Ovimbundu (or Mbundu), Angola: A rare chieftain's sceptre of the Ovimbundu with a finely carved woman’s head.
Ovimbundu (or Mbundu), Angola: A rare chieftain's sceptre of the Ovimbundu with a finely carved woman’s head.
A rare chieftain’s sceptre of the Ovimbundu (also called Mbundu), the big Angolan tribe. The rod-like sceptre, round in section, has been carved from a single piece of hard wood and dyed reddish-brown. It bears at the top a fine three-dimensional carved woman’s head with voluminous hair hanging at the back. The woman’s face has tribe-typical scarification marks, coffee bean eyes, relatively long nose and a small etched mouth. The hairstyle is created through very fine relief lines and is decorated with 20 decorative brass nails.
This female head represents ‘Nana Yakoma’, the guardian of the holy fire. For that reason, these sceptres are considered sacral objects of the elder chiefs of the Ovimbundu. A perfect, rare piece with old usage patina. No significant damage. Height: 63.5 cm. First third of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Belgian Collection.
Lit.:
'African Art in American Collections' by Robbins & Nooter, p. 565, ill. 1568.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
09.06.2016 - 17:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 3,000.-
Ovimbundu (or Mbundu), Angola: A rare chieftain's sceptre of the Ovimbundu with a finely carved woman’s head.
A rare chieftain’s sceptre of the Ovimbundu (also called Mbundu), the big Angolan tribe. The rod-like sceptre, round in section, has been carved from a single piece of hard wood and dyed reddish-brown. It bears at the top a fine three-dimensional carved woman’s head with voluminous hair hanging at the back. The woman’s face has tribe-typical scarification marks, coffee bean eyes, relatively long nose and a small etched mouth. The hairstyle is created through very fine relief lines and is decorated with 20 decorative brass nails.
This female head represents ‘Nana Yakoma’, the guardian of the holy fire. For that reason, these sceptres are considered sacral objects of the elder chiefs of the Ovimbundu. A perfect, rare piece with old usage patina. No significant damage. Height: 63.5 cm. First third of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Belgian Collection.
Lit.:
'African Art in American Collections' by Robbins & Nooter, p. 565, ill. 1568.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art - Africa |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 09.06.2016 - 17:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 04.06. - 09.06.2016 |