PROVENANCE
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27 RUE DE SEINE, 75006 PARIS, TEL : + 33 9 81 24 16 18 EMAIL : CONTACT@JBBACQUART.COM
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In memory of Priscilla B-L , whose energy filled our lives.
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PROVENANCE
Tribal objects are unique in experiencing two lives. Their first life was lived in their country of origin where these compelling objects were revered, cherished and eventually passed on from generation to generation. Their second life followed their collection and transfer to the West. Here too, they live as cherished objects, but in different ways. Ma jor collectors, modest enthusiasts and museum curators alike are enthralled by the aesthetic qualities, rarity and investment value of these captivating tribal pieces. Inspired by the ‘double life’ of tribal objects I have themed my first exhibition at TEFAF around this concept. The objects presented in this catalogue experienced and survived a rich past in their country of origin. The splendid patina found on many of these pieces attest to their revered usage. Whilst life in the West has been no less notable and illustrious. These glorious tribal objects have formed the basis of prestigious private collections, seminal museum exhibitions and scholarly reference works. Aesthetically diverse, the pieces in this catalogue range from the distinctly abstract evident in the Songe Kifwebe mask (p. 13) to the familiar, realistic shapes seen in the Tchokwe Pwo mask (p. 18) and the Igbo figure from the Kerchache collection (p. 6). What they all share in common is extraordinary quality, illustrious provenance and lives lived on two worlds.
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1- A Pentecost Island Mask, Vanuatu XIXth Cent. Height : 27 cm. Provenance : According to information by family memory : Collected in situ by James Mansfield ca. 1900 Collection of Captain Francis Joseph Bayldon (1872-1948), Sydney Collection of Reverend Joe Wood Bayldon, Lincolnshire, ca. 1910 Then by descent
Masks of the Jubwan/Chubwan style belong to a very small group originating from the southern region of Pentecost Island. Whilst their use is little documented, it is beleived that they play an important role in rituals linking men and the Yam tubers. (Huffman in Vanuatu Oceanie; Arts des iles de cendre et de corail, 1996, p. 23) The deep dark patina, the slightly encrusted surface, the marks from stone tools, and the collecting history, all attest to the great age of this striking mask.
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2- An Important Baga Altar Figure, A-tshol, Guinea Bissau Circa 1890 Height : 55 cm. Provenance : Pierre Dartevelle,Brussels Private Belgium collection Published/Exhibited : Ututombo, l’Art d’ Afrique Noire dans les collections privée belge, 1988, p.74 et 270, n° VI This extraordinarly striking altar figure is indeed one of a masterwork of Baga art. Its striking elongated beak and openwork head create a tense opposition to the rounded base of the figure. It was set on the ancestor’s altar and its function was to protect the community from deseases, bad crops and other calamities. After the main harvest, the elder would present seeds as an offering to the figure .
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M. Ratton et R. Rasmussen Ă la Galerie Duperrier
3 - A Highly important Dan Kran Mask, Ivory Coast/Liberia XIXth Cent. Height : 29 cm. Provenance : Collection RenĂŠ Rasmussen, Paris Galerie Leloup Paris, 1981 Private English collection
This astonishing Dan mask is the creation of a master carver of the 19th Century. Its remarkable repeating lines, strong features and amazing patina clearly set this mask apart from the usual artistic production of Dan carvers. Dan Kran masks usually have triangular pierced eyes, the present example with its large downcast upper lid, is more reminiscent of the oldest Dan Masks from the Ivory coast.
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4- An important Dan Mano Mask, Liberia Circa 1890 Height : 20,8 cm Provenance : Private French collection Exhibited: “Masques du Monde/Het Masker in de Wereld�, Credit Communal de Belgique, : Brussels, Belgium, 28 June-31 July, 1974. Published: Exhibition Catalogue: Masques du Monde/Het Masker in de Wereld, Brussels: Credit Communal de Belgique, 1974:#4
This exquisitely carved mask displays powerfully sensitive features such as the upturned nose and the oblique eyes which represent a young Dan woman. It is the most expressive Dan Mano mask recorded.
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Robert Jacobsen
5 -A Fine Pair of Baule Figures, Blolo Bla Ivory Coast Circa 1890 Height : 39 cm Provenance : Collection Robert Jacobsen, Denmark Jean-Paul et Michèle Agogué, Paris Baule figures were mostly used for two purposes : the first was to incarnate a spirit of the bush, Asie Usu, The second was to represent a spouse from the other world, Blolo Bla or
Blolo Bian.
These two figures are probalby Blolo Bla. They were carved under the direction of the village diviner and kept in the owner’s room where they were offered food. Moreover, they were rubbed on the owner’s skin, giving them a shiny patina. It is rare to find a pair of Blolo Bla as they were usually dispersed or sold separatly at the death of their owner.
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Arts d’Afrique Noire, Summer 1882
6- A Senufo Mask, Kpelie, Ivory Coast Circa 1900 Height : 31 cm. Provenance : Lucien Van de Velde , Anvers , Belgium, 1982 Private Collection, London Published:
‘Art d’afrique noire’; N.42, Summer 1982, P. 47
This type of mask was used by the Senufo people during ceremonies of the Poro society, usually associated with burials and collective festivities. They dispay a typical heart shaped face surrounded by ‘wings’. Surmounted by a figure of a stylised hornbill bird, this present example is more precisely associated with Kulébélé, a sub-group of the Poro soceity which includes sculptors and casters. This mask is remarkable for the simplicity of its form and the curvature of its face.
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Meisterwerke Altafrikaischer Kultur Aus Der Sammlng Casa Coray, Avril 1968, n° 18
Hans Coray
7- A Bambara Mask , N’tomo Mali Circa 1910 Height : 38,8 cm. Provenance : Hans Coray, Lugano, Switzerland Paolo Morigi, Italy Stephane Keller Private French collection Published: Meisterwerke Altafrikaischer Kultur Aus Der Sammlung Casa Coray, Avril 1968, n° 18
Bambara people use four different types of masks. This one used by the members of the N’tomo society, has a typical vertical structure above its face, The present example is exceptional due to its strong geometric features and the inset of metal plaques (now lost). Its rich dark brown patina attests to a long usage.
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Jacques Kerchache, Dahomey, Circa 1970
8- A Rare Igbo ancestor figure, Nigeria Circa 1900 Height : 75,2 cm Provenance : Collection Jacques Kerchache, Paris
Igbo people represent their ancestors by carving large wooden sculptures with typical facial and abdominal scarifications. During annual festivities, these figures are taken out from special houses where they are revered, and are paraded through villages, bringing favourable crops and luck. The present sculpture departs from the usual iconography of Igbo figures which are characteristically represented standing with hand splayed. Here, the ancestor is represented seating, holding an animal, probably its clan’s symbol.
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9- A Fine Kota Stool, Gabon Circa 1870 Diameter : 31,5 cm. Provenance : Monseigneur Augouard, (1852-1921), french missionary, second bishop in charge of the French Congo and the Oubangui circa 1880. For a closely related example of Kota stool with the same triangular pendant, see Pirat, C.-H., ‘Du Fleuve Nigeur au Fleuve Congo, une aventure africaine.’ 2014, p.169, N° 52
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10- A cephalomorphic Zande harp , Democratic Republic of Congo Circa 1900 Height : 61 cm Provenance : Antwerp Collection Private belgium collection
Music plays an important role in the royal ceremonies of the Zande people who live in northeastern Zaire. Most of the music is expressed through the use of drums and of five-string angled harps. The later has an antelope skin covered sound box. The court orchestra’s repertoire would consist of songs celebrating the history of the kingdom, the king’s personal charisma, and the strength of his army.
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11- A Fine Yombe Figure, Congo Circa 1880 Height : 32,5 cm. Provenance : Collection Klaus Clausmeyer , Dusseldorf Rautenstrauch-Joest- Museum, Cologne Loed Van Bussel, Amsterdam Private Collection, Belgium Published: Volprecht, Sammlung Clausmeyer, Afrika, vol,5, 1972, p.132, n°264
Fetish figures were revered throughout the Kongo Kingdom. They were ‘carriers’ of a variety of magical substances called Nkissi. These could be roots, leaves, seeds or animal parts. They were spectacularly placed on the head or in the abdomen of the figures.
Nkissi figures are manipulated by their owners in order to please different spirits and forces who are believed to regulate the world. The posture of the present figure indicates the absolute authority of the king, the one who decides and judges. For a related miniature figure with the same facial expression, see Sotheby’s New York, 15 Nov 2002, lot 79
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12- An Exceptional Songye Figure, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kalebwe Style Area Circa 1880 Height : 16.3 cm. without the horn Provenance : John Friede, USA Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels Private Belgium collection since 1985 Songye protective figures, Nikshi, take their power from the fetish material, called bishimba, which is inserted into their heads and abdomen. Eternal paraphernalia such a hair and cowrie shells, and leopard, monkey and snakeskins reinforce their power. They infuse the fetish with the key characteristics of the material they are derived from. The exceptionally numerous turret-headed copper nails, elengyela, which cover the head of the figure may record consultations with the Nkishi while at the same time aesthetically enhances the figure. Because of its diminutive size, the present figure would have been used as a personal guardian figure. Most likely preserving a women’s fertility, this type of fetish also protected against malevolent sorcerers, guarded the owner’s home against lightning and ensured good harvests. For a related figure from the Robert Rubin Collection of almost exactly the same size and with the same exceptional covering of copper nails, see Sotheby’s New York, 15 April 2011, lot 49
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Picture taken in situ by Patric Claes, in 1972 in the Kogolo territory.
13- A higly important Songye Kifwebe Mask, Democratic Republic of Congo XIXth cent. Height : 40 cm Provenance : Collected in the 1920’s in a Kassai mission Brought to South Africa before the Second World War by a Mr Dubois. Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels Private Belgium collection since june 1995
The most famous Songye masks are worn in connection with the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe secret society. They are called Kifwebe, which means ‘mask’ in the Songye language. Typically their faces are covered with linear incisions and show a square mouth. . These masks are worn during initiation, circumcision and funeral ceremonies when a dancer will display aggressive and uncontrolled behaviour. The present mask is part of an extremely rare group of three masks of the oldest age. All are characterised by an extraordinary quality of the striations, large pierced protrouding mouth and beautifully shaped eyes. It regroups masks published in Hersask, D., Songye: Masks and Figure Sculpture, 1986, plate 68 (now in the british Museum); Bassani, E., Africa, capolavori di un continente, 2003, N.119 and Dapper, «Luba», 1994, p. 203
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Mr and Mrs Walter Bareiss, New-York
14 - A Fine Songye Figure, from the Master of Beneki, Democratic Republic of Congo XIXth Cent. Height : 64 cm. Provenance : Pierre Dartevelle Walter Bareiss, New-York, Munich Published: Christopher D. Roy, Kilengi: African Art from the Bareiss Family Collection, 1997, P.189, Fig. 107 Exhibited:
Iowa City, The University of Iowa Museum of Art, “Kilengi: African Art from the Bareiss Family Collection”, March 27 - May 23, 1999; then other locations in the USA and Germany.
Large fetish figures, called Nkissi, protect entire villages from curses, diseases and bad crops. They are kept in special miniature huts and are mostly handled during the new phase of the moon. The sculpture is a mere support for the fetish material which is inserted in the abdomen, soulders and top of the skull in cavities which are usually linked. Stylistically this figure is part of the group identified by C. Roy as carved by the “Master of Beneki”, a carver strongly influenced by the Nsapo Nsapo tribe, active in the second half of the 19th Century. He is also noted as the creator of famous neckrests with enlarged feet.
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15-A magnificent Luba Post, Pungwe, Workshop of the «between Luvua and Lukuga rivers» Democratic Republic of Congo Circa 1880 Height : 85 cm. Provenance :
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels Private Belgium collection
Published/Exhibited: “Luba”, Dapper Museum, 1994, p. 161 Pungwe posts are anhropomorphic stakes which are planted in the middle of Luba and Hemba villages in front of the house of the clan’s chief. They have apotropaic functions, protecting the village and its inhabitants from diseases, bad crops and occult forces. They are related to the cult of the founding ancestor of the clan. At their base would rest a set of four to seven stones taken from the mountain where the clan ancestor lived before settling in the village. This exceptional post has an unusually large head, giving the figure great power, enhanced by its weathered patina.
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16- A Rare Luba Fetish Figure , Démocratic Républic of Congo Circa 1850 Height : 45,9 cm. Provenance : Comte Baudoin de Grunne
The present figure belongs to a very small group of Luba Fetish sculptures used for apotropaic reasons. They protected a whole family or a clan against diseases, curses, bad crops or unsuccessful hunting expeditions. The top of this figure has been hollowed out, filled with magical materials including teeth and other substances, giving it its magical power. It was revered and “activated” by the regular application of palm oil giving the sculpture a wonderful rich oily patina.
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17- A Fine Luba Bellows, DĂŠmocratic RĂŠpublic of Congo Circa 1880 Height : 75 cm. Provenance :
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels Private Belgium collection
Luba people are famed for adorning some of their most important objects with human forms. This beautiful Luba bellows is covered by a thick encrusted patina which suggests long usage. The equilibrium betzeen the size of the bellows and the head, the thick patina and nailed metal plates, all contribute to this particular example being the most important in the corpus of its kind.
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18- A highly important Tchokwe Mask, Mwana Pwo, Angola, Region of Southern Lunda, Area of Cucumbi, probably the village of Shamulamba XIXth Cent. Height : 32,5 cm. Provenance : Gallery group, Bruxelles en 1992 Private Belgium collection Published/exhibited : “Face Of The Spirits” - Musée D’ethnografie, Anvers, 1993, Pag.83. - Museum Of African Art, New York, 1994. - National Museum Of Art, Washington Dc. 1994. P.83 - The Museum Of Fine Arts, Houston 1994-1995. “Fleuve Congo”, - Musée Du Quai Branly, Paris, 2010 P.349 F.233. - L’express, «Fleuve Congo» Musée Du Quai Branly, P. 5, F.5 - “Thinkings With Things”, Esther Pastztory (Prof.univ.Columbia, N.Y.), 2005. P.65, F.6.4 Complete Certificate from Madame Marie-Louise Bastin, dated 16-09-1992. Pwo masks represent an idealised young and beautiful woman. It combines the evocation of the feminine ideal and the representation of an ancestor ensuring fertility. Its dancer would travel from village to village, instructing women how to move gracefully. As in all African art, every feature has a particular meaning. For example; the scarifications on the forehead represent Nzambi, the Tchokwe supreme being, whilst the scarifications on its cheeks symbolise the rising and setting sun. Stylistically, this extraordinary mask belongs to a small group of four masks emanating from the Region of Cucumbi, village of Shamulamba. They share the same carved coiffure divided in panels. This group includes masks illustrated in : - Sculptures angolaises, memorial de cultures, 1994, n. 163 ( with identical scarifications); - Art et mythology, figures Tchokwe, Dapper foundation, 1989, p. 34.35; - Robbins and Nooter, African art in American collection, 1989, n.1013 (in the university of Iowa collections and also with identical scarifications)
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In the background the Nguni Figure, in-situ in Alan Stone’s home.
19- A Northern N’guni Figure, South of Africa/Mozambique Circa 1900 Height : 64,5 cm. Provenance : Collection Allan Stone, New York This strong sculpture is part of a small group of initiation figures from the Northern Nguni people. They all measure about 80 cm. and display a frontal position with hands resting along the torso. They were used during initiation ceremonies organised for Nguni young men. The present example, with it aged patina and abstract features, epitomizes the best of Nguni artistic production.
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Notes
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