Mixed lot (2 items): Tanzania: Tribes: Zaramo, Kwere: Two ‘mwana hiti’ dolls.
Two female torso figures made of hard wood, called ‘mwana hiti’. With high, ‘cleaved’ crested coiffures. Both with breasts and accentuated navels, as well as four holes in each of their hairstyles. One figure has three vertical rows of smaller holes on the abdomen (scarification marks) and displays a necklace and a waist chain made of small glass pearls. The other ‘mwana hiti’ displays a sketched face. These ‘mwana hiti’ figures play a large role during the initiation of young girls. Hence, they were also called ‘dolls’. The present, unusual old ‘mwana hiti’ dolls both display a very beautiful, shiny patina and only minor age-related damage. First third of the 20th century or earlier. H: each ca. 15 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Brussels collection.
Lit.: ‘Tanzania’ by Marc l. Felix &Maria Kecskési, ill. II/51, II/54, III/1, III/9, 1,3,4,5, 35 et al.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 2,000.- to EUR 2,400.-
Mixed lot (2 items): Tanzania: Tribes: Zaramo, Kwere: Two ‘mwana hiti’ dolls.
Two female torso figures made of hard wood, called ‘mwana hiti’. With high, ‘cleaved’ crested coiffures. Both with breasts and accentuated navels, as well as four holes in each of their hairstyles. One figure has three vertical rows of smaller holes on the abdomen (scarification marks) and displays a necklace and a waist chain made of small glass pearls. The other ‘mwana hiti’ displays a sketched face. These ‘mwana hiti’ figures play a large role during the initiation of young girls. Hence, they were also called ‘dolls’. The present, unusual old ‘mwana hiti’ dolls both display a very beautiful, shiny patina and only minor age-related damage. First third of the 20th century or earlier. H: each ca. 15 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Brussels collection.
Lit.: ‘Tanzania’ by Marc l. Felix &Maria Kecskési, ill. II/51, II/54, III/1, III/9, 1,3,4,5, 35 et al.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
|
Buyers hotline
Mon.-Fri.: 10.00am - 5.00pm
kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |