Mixed lot (3 items): African ‘iron money’ of the Sara, Kwele and Nkutshu.
‘Pre-numismatic currency’ or ‘primitive money’ made of iron or other metals existed in pre-colonial Africa in various forms. Available here are three ‘classic examples’: 1: The Sara people in Chad used ‘kul’: thin, narrow iron struts with thickened ends forged together. L: 43 cm. 2. The Kwele in Gabon ‘paid’ the bride price and other important transactions between families with anchor-shaped ‘mandjong’. L: 54 cm, W: 44 cm. 3: For the Nkutshu in Congo, in the southern province of Kasai, the ‘oshele’ (plural: ‘woshele’) became a form of currency as well as a prestige and gift item for high-level personalities. The flat shape with the three protruding points is derived from the shape of a throwing knife. L: c. 60 cm, W: c. 40 cm. All three objects: First half of the 20th century or earlier. (ME)
Provenance: German private collection.
Lit.: ‘The perfect Form’ by Roberto Ballarini, ill. p. 192, 3.7 (Sara), p. 228, 4.28 (Kwele) and p. 306, 5.80 (Nkutshu).
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Stima:
-
EUR 1.200,- a EUR 1.400,-
Mixed lot (3 items): African ‘iron money’ of the Sara, Kwele and Nkutshu.
‘Pre-numismatic currency’ or ‘primitive money’ made of iron or other metals existed in pre-colonial Africa in various forms. Available here are three ‘classic examples’: 1: The Sara people in Chad used ‘kul’: thin, narrow iron struts with thickened ends forged together. L: 43 cm. 2. The Kwele in Gabon ‘paid’ the bride price and other important transactions between families with anchor-shaped ‘mandjong’. L: 54 cm, W: 44 cm. 3: For the Nkutshu in Congo, in the southern province of Kasai, the ‘oshele’ (plural: ‘woshele’) became a form of currency as well as a prestige and gift item for high-level personalities. The flat shape with the three protruding points is derived from the shape of a throwing knife. L: c. 60 cm, W: c. 40 cm. All three objects: First half of the 20th century or earlier. (ME)
Provenance: German private collection.
Lit.: ‘The perfect Form’ by Roberto Ballarini, ill. p. 192, 3.7 (Sara), p. 228, 4.28 (Kwele) and p. 306, 5.80 (Nkutshu).
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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Hotline dell'acquirente
lun-ven: 10.00 - 17.00
kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| Asta: | Tribal Art |
| Tipo d'asta: | Asta in sala |
| Data: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Luogo dell'asta: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Esposizione: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |