Fante, Ghana: A charming mother and child figure, called ‘Esi Mansa’.
A happily smiling mother, sitting on a typical stool and breastfeeding her child. Carved in lightweight, light-coloured wood. With the exception of the plaited coiffure of the mother, which is dyed black, the figure is entirely covered with white chalk or kaolin. Among the Fante, these maternity figures, known as ‘Esi Mansa’, are placed in cult shrines and are thought to enhance the fertility of women, give support during birth and ensure welfare and sufficient nourishment.
In the present ‘Esi Mansa’ sculpture, the mother wears four small glass pearl chains on her arms (white and yellow) and displays typical tribal scarification marks on both cheeks as well as neck rings.
However, the Fante carver who manufactured this mother figure also made a small, original mistake: the thumb of the mother’s left hand is on the wrong side. A special feature of this unique piece! Otherwise, this maternity shrine figure displays good, old, partly shiny patina and only minor damage (the colour scuffed and small cracks to the left foot and to the plinth of the stool).
First half of the 20th century; H: 30 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian Collection.
Lit.: 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, fig. p. 233.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 2,600.- to EUR 2,800.-
Fante, Ghana: A charming mother and child figure, called ‘Esi Mansa’.
A happily smiling mother, sitting on a typical stool and breastfeeding her child. Carved in lightweight, light-coloured wood. With the exception of the plaited coiffure of the mother, which is dyed black, the figure is entirely covered with white chalk or kaolin. Among the Fante, these maternity figures, known as ‘Esi Mansa’, are placed in cult shrines and are thought to enhance the fertility of women, give support during birth and ensure welfare and sufficient nourishment.
In the present ‘Esi Mansa’ sculpture, the mother wears four small glass pearl chains on her arms (white and yellow) and displays typical tribal scarification marks on both cheeks as well as neck rings.
However, the Fante carver who manufactured this mother figure also made a small, original mistake: the thumb of the mother’s left hand is on the wrong side. A special feature of this unique piece! Otherwise, this maternity shrine figure displays good, old, partly shiny patina and only minor damage (the colour scuffed and small cracks to the left foot and to the plinth of the stool).
First half of the 20th century; H: 30 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian Collection.
Lit.: 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, fig. p. 233.
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: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |