Sakalava, Madagascar: A rare representation of a couple in erotic or sexual embrace. Stemming from the fencing of a Sakalava grave.
Sakalava, Madagascar: A rare representation of a couple in erotic or sexual embrace. Stemming from the fencing of a Sakalava grave.
The Sakalava live on the western coast of the island of Madagascar and bury their dead in wooden tombs in the forest. These graves have rectangular fencings at the edge of which are placed not only individual figures (cf cat. no. 132), but also such figures of couples in intimate of sexual embrace. The meaning of these rare representations is that they enable, promote or facilitate the deceased people’s ‘rebirth’ in the ancestral world beyond. The present figure shows the man and woman with arms and legs entwined. It is a piece of erotic funerary sculpture of the Sakalava people, made of wood and placed upon a rounded rectangular plinth. Carved from a single piece and showing its age — as is evident from the heavy traces of weathering that have resulted from the years of standing outdoors. In addition to a light grey patina from weathering, there are remnants of earlier paint: white on the head of the woman and green at the back of her hairstyle. H: 57 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance: Private Collection, Brussels.
Lit.: 'Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika' by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 824, 825, 1069; 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 400, 401.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
02.11.2015 - 14:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 2,200.-
Sakalava, Madagascar: A rare representation of a couple in erotic or sexual embrace. Stemming from the fencing of a Sakalava grave.
The Sakalava live on the western coast of the island of Madagascar and bury their dead in wooden tombs in the forest. These graves have rectangular fencings at the edge of which are placed not only individual figures (cf cat. no. 132), but also such figures of couples in intimate of sexual embrace. The meaning of these rare representations is that they enable, promote or facilitate the deceased people’s ‘rebirth’ in the ancestral world beyond. The present figure shows the man and woman with arms and legs entwined. It is a piece of erotic funerary sculpture of the Sakalava people, made of wood and placed upon a rounded rectangular plinth. Carved from a single piece and showing its age — as is evident from the heavy traces of weathering that have resulted from the years of standing outdoors. In addition to a light grey patina from weathering, there are remnants of earlier paint: white on the head of the woman and green at the back of her hairstyle. H: 57 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance: Private Collection, Brussels.
Lit.: 'Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika' by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 824, 825, 1069; 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 400, 401.
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: | 02.11.2015 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 28.10. - 02.11.2015 |