Mixed lot (4 items): snake representations, two made of wood, two of iron. As protective amulets against snakebites and employed as an aspect of snake cults.
Mixed lot (4 items): snake representations, two made of wood, two of iron. As protective amulets against snakebites and employed as an aspect of snake cults.
Four snake representations, two made of wood, two of iron.
1: A wriggling snake made of wood, painted in diagonal stripes of white, black and red, with a red head. According to information of the consigner, this piece comes from the snake cult of Ouida, a port town in the Republic of Benin (formerly Dahomey), where it was used for ritual acts in an ancestor cult with pythons. Probably from the Yoruba who settled in Benin. Length: 70 cm.
2: A small, wriggling snake with head and projecting tongue. Carved in lightweight wood and originally dyed black (with colour abrasion due to age). A shrine object or protective amulet of the Lobi, in southern Burkina Faso. Length: 23.5 cm.
3: A wriggling snake with four heads (one broken). Forged in iron. A typical piece of the tribe of the Gan, who live in Burkina Faso. Length: c. 26 cm.
4: A wriggling snake. Forged in iron, with two projections on its head (indicating a ‘male’ snake). Probably manufactured by the Lobi in Burkina Faso (or by the Fon in Benin, who forge similar snakes with projections). Length: 32 cm. All four objects are old. The two wooden snakes display a good shiny patina due to long period of usage.
Both iron snakes have age-related coating of rust. First half of the 20th century or partly earlier. (ME)
Provenance: Viennese private collection.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
06.04.2017 - 15:00
- Prezzo di partenza:
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EUR 200,-
Mixed lot (4 items): snake representations, two made of wood, two of iron. As protective amulets against snakebites and employed as an aspect of snake cults.
Four snake representations, two made of wood, two of iron.
1: A wriggling snake made of wood, painted in diagonal stripes of white, black and red, with a red head. According to information of the consigner, this piece comes from the snake cult of Ouida, a port town in the Republic of Benin (formerly Dahomey), where it was used for ritual acts in an ancestor cult with pythons. Probably from the Yoruba who settled in Benin. Length: 70 cm.
2: A small, wriggling snake with head and projecting tongue. Carved in lightweight wood and originally dyed black (with colour abrasion due to age). A shrine object or protective amulet of the Lobi, in southern Burkina Faso. Length: 23.5 cm.
3: A wriggling snake with four heads (one broken). Forged in iron. A typical piece of the tribe of the Gan, who live in Burkina Faso. Length: c. 26 cm.
4: A wriggling snake. Forged in iron, with two projections on its head (indicating a ‘male’ snake). Probably manufactured by the Lobi in Burkina Faso (or by the Fon in Benin, who forge similar snakes with projections). Length: 32 cm. All four objects are old. The two wooden snakes display a good shiny patina due to long period of usage.
Both iron snakes have age-related coating of rust. First half of the 20th century or partly earlier. (ME)
Provenance: Viennese private collection.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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lun-ven: 10.00 - 17.00
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| Asta: | Tribal Art |
| Tipo d'asta: | Asta in sala |
| Data: | 06.04.2017 - 15:00 |
| Luogo dell'asta: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Esposizione: | 01.04. - 06.04.2017 |