Namji (or Dowayo), Cameroon: A typical fertility doll.
Among the Namji (also called Namchi or Dowayo), young men give their fiancées a doll such as the present one. It is made of wood and displays a ‘classic’ shape: standing straight and stiff, with bent arms and legs. The present Namji doll is wrapped in fabric stripes (glued) and richly adorned. The small head with high crested coiffure displays typical tribal scarification marks to the temples (three lines each), the eyes and mouth consist of small, white glass pearls. Neck and body are wrapped in glass pearl chains ranging in colour from white to light brown. Chest and arms feature a row of red jequirity beans (seed capsules, three are missing). Three hanging amulet bags made of leather are supposed to offer the woman protection. One iron ring hangs in the hair crest and another four on the body. Seven decorative brass nails on red discs and two British colonial coins are lodged in the legs. Another coin hangs on the front of the body. The dates stamped on these three coins are: 1936, 1942 and 1947. An object with visibly good patina and only minor age damage. First half to mid-20th century; (ME)
Provenance: French private collection.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Stima:
-
EUR 3.200,- a EUR 4.000,-
Namji (or Dowayo), Cameroon: A typical fertility doll.
Among the Namji (also called Namchi or Dowayo), young men give their fiancées a doll such as the present one. It is made of wood and displays a ‘classic’ shape: standing straight and stiff, with bent arms and legs. The present Namji doll is wrapped in fabric stripes (glued) and richly adorned. The small head with high crested coiffure displays typical tribal scarification marks to the temples (three lines each), the eyes and mouth consist of small, white glass pearls. Neck and body are wrapped in glass pearl chains ranging in colour from white to light brown. Chest and arms feature a row of red jequirity beans (seed capsules, three are missing). Three hanging amulet bags made of leather are supposed to offer the woman protection. One iron ring hangs in the hair crest and another four on the body. Seven decorative brass nails on red discs and two British colonial coins are lodged in the legs. Another coin hangs on the front of the body. The dates stamped on these three coins are: 1936, 1942 and 1947. An object with visibly good patina and only minor age damage. First half to mid-20th century; (ME)
Provenance: French 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: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Luogo dell'asta: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Esposizione: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |