Maternities - West African Art by tribalartforum

When I visited Tate Gallery and saw the sculpture „Mother and Child diveded“ by Damien Hirst I had immediately the association to the numerous African Maternities I had collected in the last 12 years in Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. It was a very superficial view, because what is labled „divided“ is in reality the cry out of the mother to its child. The most emotional attachment between this archaic relationship. Hirst´s sculpture with its extensive expression is embedded in a longlasting tradition in Western Art, which showes us the emotional attachment in the process between mother and child in the first phase of human life and its alalogous relation of many other animals. Whether we lokk at sculptures and pictures of Henry Moor, Fernand Legér, Egon Schiele, Paul Klee etc, we always find the emotional relationship in these works, which makes the dependency between motrher and child so characteristic. This emotional relationships is expressed by colors or the duct of a drawing, to name only two examples.

Only in the early Middle ages, in the Romanic, we find something similar to the African representation of Maternities. The child is portrayed as an „instrument“, which is unrelated fixed on the lap or in the mother´s arm. This child is really „devided“, is seperated from the mother. Not in the way Damien Hirst devides mother and child externally. It is the inner seperation of both, which is characteristic of the African Maternities.

There are also some photos of real African mothers and their children in this small catalog, which I made over the years during collecting sculptures of wood, bronze or terracotta. There are mothers whose aesthetic appearance is alien to us. Far outside of any Western fashion, they wear lip sticks or cowrie shells as a symbol of their fertility. Or a female child without cloths wants to show me its doll without arms and legs as symbolizing the play to learn in the role of a mother. What kind of cultural dimension does this entail, when maternities are represented so differently in our western world than in another continent? WJ

A Lobi maternity, bearing a child, encrusted and of blackened surface, remnants of chickenfeathers 400,- Euro

A male Lobi sculpture with intensive traces of sacrifications and a remarkable gesture (the right hand turned backwards). We have collected only two or three sculptures of this shape. Dies ist ein Mustertext. Dieser Text wird fortgesetzt. Dies ist ein Mustertext. Dieser Text wird fortgesetzt. Dies ist ein Mustertext. Dieser Text wird fortgesetzt. Dies ist ein Mustertext. Dieser Text wird fortgesetzt. Dies ist ein Mustertext. Dieser Text wird fortgesetzt. Dies ist ein Mustertext. Dieser Text wird fortgesetzt. Dies ist ein Mustertext. Dieser Text wird fortgesetzt. Dies ist ein Mustertext. Dieser Text wird fortgesetzt.

A Gan maternity with two children of the Banfora region, according of the last owner a burial object; varied oxidated patina, remnants of encrusted earth. 1.600,- Euro

A Bamana maternity, probably of the Bougouni region; heavy, hard wood, signs of age and use. sold

A Bamana iron maternity of large dimension in seated position holding a child in front of her abdomen; aged, oxidised patina. sold

A Senufo maternity from the MÂ´bengue Area, 75 km North-West of Korhogo. sold

A Bamana maternity, seated on a one leg stool, holding a child close to the abdomen, the beasts hanging and of tapering form, the large head with a cap of the traditional fotrm of the Bamana, three curved pigtails of elongated form ; hravy hard wood, partly eroded by insect damages. The Bamana hairdress as an expression of the social ranking 1.200,- Euro

A Lobi maternity of the Djigue region, not far from the border to the Ivory Coast; encrustration and remnants of a Kaolin patina. sold

A Bamana Maternity, seated on a one legs stool, holding its child close to the abdomen, the elongated pigtails are verifying a high ranking woman like the wife of the „chief de village“ or the „warlord“, wearling a cap in the traditional manner of the Bamana women until the earky 1920th. Nowadays these headdresses don´t exist anymore. 1.800,- Euro

Djenne maternity, in seating position, holding a child in its arms, collecting in the Jenne-Jeno region, Mali: eroded condition,the end of the cultural use of these figures is unknown.TL analysis on request. 800,- Euro

A Lobi maternity of the Ghana region, collected close to Nako, of rough cubistic form, partly encrusted. 600,- Euro

A Dogon maternity, posted on a circular base and seated on three stylized figures, holding two children in its hands, large protruding breasts, the helmet-like head with an almondshaped coiffure, aluminium rings in nose and ears; several agecracks and encrustrations from traces of loglasting sacrifications. 2.800,- Euro

A Baule maternity, standing on a rectangular, rounded base, shortened, slightly bent legs, the elongated torso with the scarifications of family-marks, tapering, hanging breasts, a thick neck supporting an ovoid head with flattened fascial plane with fine elaborated features.; blackened glossy patina with signs of encrusted earth. 600,- Euro

A Lobi Grandma-Maternity, close to Loropeni

A fragmentary Lobi maternity, carrying her child at the back; the legs are missing by the damages of insects, which is nearly normal for old, archaic sculptures like this one; encrusted patina, traces of blood in particular at the back of the mother; extremly heavy, hard wood of unknown origin. 600,- Euro

A female Lobi sculpture of the region of Passena close to the border of Ivory Coas, heavy, hard karote-wood. sold

A Lobi maternity, probably of the region around the village MÂ´Botana, 12 km from Gaoua; encrusted sacrification patina, remnants of blood and kaolin all over the sculpture, extremly heavy and hard wood. 1.600,- Euro

A Djenne Maternity, terracotta sculpture, in kneeling position, with feet tucked at the back, holding a child in her arms, the archaic, massive torso surmounted with a forward projecting egg-shaped head, prominent mouth beneath a triangular nose, framed by bulging eyes; varied reddish to grey patina. Collected around 1995 in the Niger Inner Delta, between Segou and Mopti. TL-analysis on request. sold

A large Kala Maternity, seated on a four leg stool, the wedgeshaped feet with accurately carved toes, the angled legs ending in prominent buttocks, the slender torso with a slightly protruding abdomen, the navel pointed and the breasts in prominent, conical form, the shoulders rounded, the abstract hands holding a vessel at the left s and a fragmentary child at the right side, the whole body is covered with geometrical scarification patterns, an extremly elongated neck supporting the large head with stylized facial features, framed by large rhomboid ears, wearing a striated, transverselycrested coiffure; the whole figure has signs of intensive use, in particular at the face of the mother, the breasts and the the fascial features of the child, which is typical for the ritual use of these maternities with itÂ´s characteristic, fine touch-patina. 1.600,- Euro

A Dan Yacouba sculpture, Ivory Coast, of a maternityâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Lu Meâ&#x20AC;&#x153; an unproportional large head with fine fascial features,the two parted coiffure with human hairs, a fine shiny patina and signs of longlasting ritual use. sold

A Lobi maternity of high abstract, cubistic form with a child on its back; natural brownish patina. sold

A large Malinke Maternity, seated on an abstract stool, carrying a child on itÂ´s back, the elongated lower legs ending up in shortened thighs and prominent buttocks, the arms carved close to the body with hands resting at the knees, large protruding breasts are placed at an columnar torso, the shoulders rectangular with an overhanging bladebone, which is characteristic for most of the Malike sculptures, the rectangular formed head with fine fascial features surmounted by a crown-like coiffure decorated with small iron-rings at the middleridge, pigtails on ech side of the head and at the back; heavy, hard karitĂŠ wood, weathered and with signs of intensive, long-lasting ritual use, several fine age-cracks in particular at the shoulders, natural brownish, partly shiny patina. sold

A Puguli maternity with a large, helmetlike head, holding a child in its arm; remnants of enncrustrations and signs of sacrifications. 650,- Euro

A Bamana maternity, seated on a four leg stool shortened, angeled legs,, holding in each hand a child in its hands, the breasts tapering and swept downwards, a elongated neck surmounted by a globular head with a circular fascial plane weathered, hard wood, several age cracks an remnants of encrusted karite. sold

A Bamana Maternity of the Doila region, posted on a rounded base, shortened bent legs, a slender torso with a pointed small navel, conical breasts, the rounded shoulders ending up in curved arms in open works, the long neck surmounted by a helmet like head with a flattened face, framed by stylized pigtails, the child on the backside of the sculpture: blackened, shiny patina with remnants sacrifications, some original repairs with metal brackets. sold

A Bamana DoÂ´Kamissa sculpture - a maternity of the Do society collected in the village Bouadie, 20 km from Tamani, from the other side of the river, about 50 km from Segou, blackened, aged patina, with many layers of oxidised karitĂŠ over heavy, hard lenke wood. sold

Peul oder Fluani Frauen im Hof eines Hausserhändlers in der Nähe von Korhogo am Anfang ihres 2000 km Fußmarsches in acht Monaten durch die Sahelzone. Während ihre Männer große Viehherden in die gleiche Richtung treiben aber nicht auf dem selben Weg, sehen sich Mann und Frau für diese lange Zeit des Jahres nicht. Nur für vier Monate jedes Jahr leben die Verheirateten zusammen. Was zur Folge hat, daß die meisten Kinder in den gleichen Monaten geboren werden, dh neun Monate nach den vier Monaten, in denen die Frauen schwanger werden. Die Frauen sind mehr oder weniger unabhängig von ihren Männern. Sie verdienen ihren Lebensunterhalt mit der Herstellung und dem Verkauf von traditioneller Medizin auf ihrem Fußmarsch durch die Dörfer und Staedte bevor sie ihr Ziel erreichen: Die Wiedervereinigung mit Ihren Männern und die Zeit, in der Mann und Frau wieder zusammenleben. Nach ein bis maximal zwei Jahren trennen die Peul-Frauen sich von ihren Kindern, die dem langem Fußmarsch nicht gewachsen wären und zu schwer sind, um sie zu tragen. Die Kinder wachsen fortan bei den Großeltern auf. Eine Peul-Mutter mit ihrem Kind, das schon mehr als ein Jahr alt ist. Was selten ist, denn große Kinder auf dem Rücken über hunderte von Kilometern zu tragen ist eine große Last. Weitere Fotos von Peul-Mütter

A Gwandusu Maternity of the Doila region, seated on a four leg stool, the torso with a protruding abdomen, prominent conical breasts beneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a cap- or crownlike coiffure, the hair dressed as three tresses falling over each shoulder and down to the back below the crested cap, extremly heavy hard wood with signs of high age dark, partly glossy patina, in particular at the child. sold

A Bamana Maternity of the Doila or Bougouni region. posted with flattened feet on a rectangular, rounded base, shortened, bent legs, ending up in prominent buttocks, the prominent abdomen with a pointed navel, large, protruding and tapering breasts, the cocked arms with big hands, holding a little child, the large head with the traditional coiffure of a marriaged woman of the Bamana, an elongated nose framed by heavy lidded eyes; blackened patina, partly glossy, extremly heavy, hard Lenke wood. 1.800,- Euro

A remarkable Lobi maternity with two children upraising from themotherÂ´Â´ shoulders; the face of the mother partly enroded. sold

A female Malinke Maternity seated on a stoo, the bent legs leading to rounded hips and buttocks, the elongated torsos with a protruding navel, with large conical breasts ,a child on the back, the thin neck supporting a helmet-like head with a jutting chin and a small pointed mouth, metal tracks inset into a recessed heartshaped faces; fine and encrusted dark brown patina, unknown origin, but stylistic itÂ´s from the eastern Mande Region, near Koulikoro. sold An analogous exemplare

A remarkable Lobi maternity or paternity without significant sex, carrying a child on itÂ´s head; encrustrations and remnants of earth. sold

A Bamana maternity, Gwandusu, seated on a stool, the slender torso with a child in front of the abdomen, hanging conical breasts bneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a caplike coiffure, the hair dressed as three tresses, heavy hard wood, dark glossy patina, collected in one of the villages close to Dioila, Mali. sold

A Lobi terracotta maternity with arms spread out, the cild resting on the bent right leg; grey to reddish patina. sold

A Bamana Maternity of Dokamissa (initiation society of the women and mythical figure of the Bamana people, probably similar like Jo and Gwan), standing on a circular base, holding a child in the hands, metal eyes in deep sockets, a comblike coiffure wit three striated pigtails, u-shaped ears, heavy, hard bumbu wood, several insect damages at the right side of the head. sold

A Bamana Maternity of the Baniko region, standing on a circular plinth, flattened feet, shortened legs, ending up in prominent buttocks, an elongated torso with protruding abdomen, teh large breasts conical, bent arms holding a child in seated position in the hands, the helmetlike head with a pointed mouth beneath a slender, curved nose, the small metaleyes in deep sockets, wearing a single crested coiffure; blackened, aged sacrification patina. sold

A Bamana maternity of the Doila region; heavy, hard Lenke wood, blackene, aged patina. sold

The value of children in woman´s lives is expressed in a sung by newly excised Bamana women (Luneau 2974: 539) quoted from Kate Ezra, „A Human Ideal in African Art, Bamana Figurative Sculptures“, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1986 „The child you bear The child you bear Is an Ornament Evenif you have placed gold On the ears of your wife A woman´ornament is the child she bears“

A Bamana maternity of the Baniko region, seated on eroded four leg stool, the shortened legs ending up in prominent buttocks, the slnder torso with a slightly protruding abdomen and a pointed navel,, the tapering breasts in hanging position, the rounded shoulders terminating in elongated arms with hands resting on the knees, a columnar neck is supporting an oval head with a single cresteed coiffure framed by pigtails, the signs of a young Bamana-mother, a c cave fascial plane with pointed mouth and a slender, elongated nose, framed by heavy lided eyes, which gives the face of the mother a heartshaped, high abstract form; dark, heavy wood, partly a little bit weathered and at the buttocks signs of a waterdamage, remnants of encrusted sacrifications on the shoulders and the breasts of the sculpture. sold

A Lobi maternity of a wellknown carver/workshop, standing on blockshaped feet, slightly bent legs, large, pointed navel, hanging tapering breasts, the angled arms carved to the body, the rectangular hands stylized, beneath a globular head, a short, thick neck, the fascial features with an arrow-like nose, framed by diamondshaped eyes, on top of the head a vessel, the child at the back of the mother looking sidewise; traces of a kaolin patina all other the sculpture. sold

A Lobi Maternity of Polfoté (Boumanté), holding a child in the left arm; natural brown to reddish Karité patina. A Polfoté drawing of one of his old sculptures with sacrification patina., Polfoté with two other sculptors of Latara. 900,- Euro

A Bamana maternity of the Tamani region, Southern of Segou, posted of a circular baseshaortened, bent legs with prominent buttocks, the protruding abdomen with a pointed navel, hanging tapering breasts, the arms close to the body. in the hands a sucking baby, the globular head with a concave, ovoid fascial plane with elongated nose, framed by metal eyes; blackened, shiny patina, heavy, hard wood. sold

A Bamana Maternity of Dokamissa (initiation society of the women and mythical figure of the Bamana people, probably similar like Jo and Gwan), heavy; hard bumbu wood, collected in the Tamani region, 75 km from Segou. sold

A standing Bamana Maternity, Tamani region, based on a circular plinth, flat feet beneath slightly bent legs, the abdomen protruding, the tapering breasts hanging, holding a child in th arms, the large head bent forwards, bulging lips, a naturalistic nose, framed by crescent eyes an circular ears, the headdress single crested; several insect damaged, grey to blakened patina. sold

A Bamana Maternity of Dokamissa (initiation society of the women and mythical figure of the Bamana people, probably similar like Jo and Gwan), heavy, hard bumbu wood. The value of children in women´s lives is expressed in a song sung by newly exised Bamana women (Luneau 1974:539) „The child you bear The child you bear Is an ornament Even if you have placed gold On the ears of your wife A woman´s ornament is The child she bears.“ „If you are not afraid of females, Master If you are not afraid of females, You´re not afraid of anything“ sold

In contrary to the „washing-ceremony“ Kate Ezra is describing „A Human Ideal in African Art“, 1986; 22, the ritual remnants of this sculpture is a result of daily sacrification. Daba Diarra explained: The similar sculptures - obvious from the same carver and collected in the same region - have completly different surfaces. The reason is the different form of sacrification. In this case the women, who are bagging for fertility are taking the water, in which they have washed their hands after the meal, to lavish the sculpture. This form of sacrification creates a very specific patina, which we found also at some Malinke figures. Little particles of the meal, which are in the washingwater, are „feeding the sculpture“ and are producing the specific encrustration of the figure. Another consequence is the reaction of the wood, which is for both sculptures the same bumbu wood - hard an heavy like iron. The first sculpture shows significant, weathered age-cracks and the second one has only some cracks at the bottom like the other one. The „daily sacrification with washingwater“ slowed down the drying-process of the wood with the consequence that this sculpture has much less age-cracks. sold

An extremly rare Kala sculpture, showing „Koro Muso Neile“ (Große Frau des Lichtes) behind „Dokoké Kala Zanke“ (der kleine Bruder von muso neile), in the history of the Kala Zanke was the founder of the village of hundred hunters, which is called „Dongoli“; reddish karité wood, partly shiny with traces of encristration and traces of oxidised sheebutter, the sculpture was collected Tiemedeli on the other side of the river from Segou-view. 1.200,- Euro

A Bamana Maternity, standing on blockshapes feet, the slender torso with large, protruding breasts, the elongated neckis supporting a globular head with an ovoid fascial plane, a small ponted mouthbeneath a fine nose framed by buttoneyes, a pigtail at the back, dark to blackened patina, signs of age and use. 1.600,- Euro

A Senufo maternity, used as afetish figure, seated on a four leg stool and holding a child in its hands; thick remnants of fetish- and sacrification-patina all over the scupture. It is the first time we collected a maternity, which is used as a fetish. 1.200,- Euro

A Bamana Maternity of the Doila region. 1.200,- Euro

100

A remarkable Gwandusu sculpture, seated on a four leg stool, holding a child close to the abdomen, the breasts in shape of droplike form as aattachment of the pigtails on both sides of the face; greyish patina with remnants of oxidised kaolin. 1.800,- Euro wolfgang-jaenicke.blogspot.com The Bamana hairdress as an expression of the social ranking

102

A young girl with her puppet from Latera, close to Kampti

104

A Maternity of the Baniko style of an unknown provenance, the former owner, wasntÂ´ sure, where his brother collected this sculpture; blackened patina, signs of age and ritual use. 1.600,- Euro

106

A large maternity of the Massigui/Doila region, seated on a four leg stool, holding two children, seated on itÂ´s knees, the hanging, tapering breasts with pointed nipples, the rectangular head with metal eyes in deep sockets, the headdress in form of a single crested coiffure, large u- shaped ears, pierced through for attachments at the rim; shiny, blackened patina, remnants of oxidised sheebutter in the sockets and close to the nose, intensive touch patina at the face, the breasts and the foreheads of the two children, which remains of the sculptures function: the Bamana-belief of the women by touching these large, important figures creating fertility. 1.200,- Euro

108

A Bamana maternity collected in Segou Koro, 10 km from Segou ville, stylistically of the Tamanairegion 40 km from the place we collected this figure: fieldphotos from the place, where the staue was collected, at the back of this photo-squence.; high aged, several age cracks and old repairs with metal brackets. 1.600,- Euro

110

A Senufo Maternity, of the Bundiali region, Northern Ivory Coast; reddish wood with a shiny touchpatina. 900,- Euro

112

A Dokamissa sculpture (not stolen, provided for little money) was offered me in an act of friendship a couple of days after we made the film about the ceremony. I hesitated to buy this sculpture, because I normally refuse all objects which are pictured on so called „field-photos“ without any scientific value only motivated by the well know European Voyeurism. The film we made was probably the first documentation of this specific Bamana ceremony. But the consequence of these Photo-Safaris with hundred of carvers or fetishers is a serious attack to the spiritual life of indigen people. Either an invitation to steal these figures, because of its value on a specific Tribal Art market or an invitaion to Photo-Safaris into the last undiscovered parts of indigen people. This exemplare will go to a well known European Ethno Museum as a donation together with a video clip, which is unique. The publication of these noumerous „fieldphotos“ however, which we see nowadays on Internet or in published books or the purchase of the related ritual objects, which have a KONTEXT to voyeurism,, should be called, what they are: A criminal activity similar like buying stolen objects from indigen tribes. 1.800,- Euro

114

116

A Bamana maternity holding two children in her hands, seated on a four legs stool, shortened, bent legs ending up in prominnet buttocks, the sender torsp with a slightly protruding abdomen,the tapering breast hanging, the elongated neck is supporting an ovalhead wit a singlecrested coiffure; blackened aged patina, old damages in the fascial plane, agecracks and metal brackets. sold

118

The Dokamissa is the second woman after Muso Masa, a type of sculpture we collected several times and it was sacrfied in the Bamana film clip, we published recently in the Saro region. According of the traditional Bamana law the first child of Muso Massa has to be given to Dokamissa - the second woman in the familial hierarchy of the women. If Dokamissa hasnÂ´t at that moment no child, the first child of Muso Massa has always the name Sujulu Kuruma and the first cild of Sukulu Kuruma has always the name Sunjata Keita, which shows the Bamana society has much more named familial relations than we know. It would be a great challenge to find out the sociological reason for this particualarity. Not for sale

120

A Dongon couple of unknown origin. 2.400,- Euro

122

A Bamana Gwandusu, posted on a fourlegstool, holding a child close to the abdomen, blackened patina with traces of oxidised karitĂŠ. 3.200,- Euro wolfgang-jaenicke.blogspot.com The Bamana hairdress as an expression of the social ranking

124

A Materity of Youl Bolare, Bonko; heavy hard Sankolo wood, partly weathered, several age cracks. 1.600,- Euro Youl BolarĂŠ by PH How problematically these Interviews with Lobi people are...

126

A Lobi woman with her grandchild from a village close to Loropeni.

128

A Bamana maternity of the Baniko style, seated on a stool, holding a child between the legs, traces of oxidised karite, signs of age and ritual use. sold

130

A Bamana Maternity of the Tamani region, about 80 km from Segou, stattet on a four leg stop, a child on the back, the abdomen obvious pregnant, which are touched by the mothers hands; shiny, blackende patina, traces of sacrifications. 1.800,- Euro

132

A Lobi maternity of Youl Bonkfane, which we will interview in December, approximately 70 years old, ; aged karitĂŠ wood with traces of sacrifications. 600,- Euro Asking once again Youl BonkfantĂŠ

134

A Dogon maternity, in kneeing position, posted on a circular base, with a child close to the abdomen, the helmet-like head with a comblike coiffure at the back a openwork-zig-zagcarving; thick, encrusted sacrification patina. 1.200,- Euro

136

A Yombe maternity, Zaire; remnants of blue pigments with authentic repairs and an excellent high aged touch patina. 1.800,- Euro

138

A Fon Maternity with numerous fetish attachments, calebasses nd fabrics. 800,- Euro

140

A Dan maternity of eroded condition, carrying a child on its back; remnants of different layers of encrusted pigments. 900,- Euro

142

A Peul woman with her child on the 2000 km walking tour from Ivory Coast to the Northern part of Mali, which she did every years, independent from her husband, earning her own money by selling traditional medicine in the small villages she passed on her exhausting tour. At the bottom, right: the carving of a Lobi child-head.

144

A Lobi sculpture with two heads, may be a stylized maternity; natural brownish patina. sold

146

A female Ci Wara Bozo related, Segou region, 600,- Euro

148

A Lobi maternity of â&#x20AC;&#x17E;the carver with the rectangular mouthâ&#x20AC;&#x153;; signs of sacrifications, partly encrusted. 800,- Euro

150

A female Bamana antelope headdress, Ci Wara, plated with sheets of brass, cowrie shells and fabrics. LaGamma, Alisa, Ideas of Origin in African Sculpture, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2003:109, Bamana, the Art of Existance, Jean-Paul Colleyn (ed.), Rietberg Museum ZĂźrich, Museum for African Art New York, 2001: 201 - 233. 400,- Euro

152

154

A Bamana Maternity, seated on a semi circular, crescent stool, a slender columnar torso with tapering, slightly hanging breasts of enormous dimension, the openwork arms close to the body with hands supporting the two children on itÂ´s knees, both children with elongated arms touching the breast of their mother, the head ovoid, the mouth small and protruding, a slender, stylized nose, framed by metal eyes, surmounted by a single crested coiffure and two pigtails on each side, a coiffure with signs of a married woman with a child/children; several age-cracks, repaired with metal-brackets, the surface partly shiny with the remnants of a touch patina and encrustrations of oxidised sheebutter. 800,- Euro

156

Peul woman. Korhogo, Ivory Coast

158

A Bamana maternity, Gwandusu, seated on a stylized stool, the slender torso with a child in front of the abdomen, protruding conical breasts beneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a high domed panel-like coiffure, the hair dressed as three striated tresses falling downwards, dark brownish to grey, partly encrusted patina, remnants of blackened pigments, extremly hard, heavy wood, oxidised remnants of sheebutter. sold

160

A Bamana maternity, Gwandusu, seated on a cylindrical stool, the slender torso with a child in front of the abdomen, protruding conical breasts bneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a caplike coiffure, the hair dressed as three tresses falling over each shoulderv and down to the backbelow the crested cap, heavy hard wood, dark glossy patina, in particular at the child. sold

162

A female Bamana Gwandusu sculpture of fragmentary shape, seated on a stool holding a child itÂ´s hands, the slender torso with a protruding navel, the elongated neck surmounting with an ovoid head with a cromb-like coiffure, the hair dressed as three fragmentary tresses; the weathered, fragmentary condition of the sculpture verifies a high age, the wood is extremly hard, probably lenkĂŠ, several agecracks and significat waterdamages at the right side of the face. sold

164

A Gwandusu Maternity of the Doila region, seated on a four leg stool, the torso with a protruding abdomen, prominent conical breasts beneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a caplike coiffure, the hair dressed as three tresses falling over each shoulder and down to the back below the crested cap, extremly heavy hard wood with signs of high age (s. detail photos) dark, partly glossy patina, in particular at the child, one leg is missing, the right arm is broken. sold

166

A Gwandusu Maternity of the Doila region, seated on a four leg stool, a slender torso , prominent conical breasts beneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a caplike coiffure, the hair dressed as three tresses falling over each shoulder and down to the back below the crested cap, extremly heavy hard wood, dark, glossy patina, in particular at the child. sold

168

A couple of Jomogoniw or Gwandusu sculptures, Bamana maternity, Gwandusu, seated on a stylized stools, the slender torso of the woman with a child in front of the abdomen, protruding conical breasts beneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a caplike, domed coiffure, the hair dressed as three tresses falling over each shoulder and down to the backbelow the crested cap, heavy hard lenkĂŠ wood, weathered, in particular at the child, the male sculpture more weathered and with more signs of erosion, holding a short sword and a magical horn in itÂ´s hands. According of the last owner Daba Diarra collected in the Dioala region. sold

170

A Bamana Gwandusu sculpture (left) of heavy hard Lenke wood, seated on a stool, holding a child in front of its abdomen, remarkable the head which is turned sidewards, a rare, but not unusual expression. The pendant - the Gwandiki - right is already sold. sold

172

An iron Gwandusu of the Doila region, seated on a four leg stool, in front of the enormous elongated torso a child, hold by it´s mothers´s hands, the hairdress in it´s typical form of this mythical female statue with long pigtails touching the breasts; heavy encrusted patina, oxidations in various coloures. sold

174

A Bamana maternity, Gwandusu, seated on a stylized stool, the slender torso with a child in front of the abdomen, protruding conical breasts beneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a caplike coiffure, the hair dressed as three tresses falling over each shoulders and down to the back below the crested cap, heavy hard wood, dark partly glossy patina, extremly hard heavy wood. sold

176

A Gwandusu sculpture of the Western Segou region, nearly close to the border to Mauretania (!), round about 300 km on the other side of the Niger river, standing on large, blockshaped feet, shortened legs, ending up in prominent buttocks, a slightly, elegant curved torso, protruding breasts beneath rounded shoulders, the columnar neck surmounted by an ovoid head with three long pigtails, two longer at the front bandaged with ritual medicine like the upperarms and one shorter pigtail at the back without bandages, the child in front of the mother seems to be growing out of the abdomen, looking sidewards and embracing the slender torso of itÂ´s mother; the blackened protection patina, partly peeled off, shows years of ritual use and gives the sculpture itÂ´s relatively good condition without any serious insect damages. sold

178

A fragmentary Bamana Gwandusu sculpture, seated on a four leg stool, one arm is broken, the other is framentary, from the two children of this maternity one is lost, the long, curved pigtails are fragmentary as well; the sculpture, which is carved from heavy, hard lenke-wood, shows remnants of oxidised karitĂŠ, but is in a weathered condition, which could be a sign for a longlasting outside position on the fields, where many Gwandusu sculptureswere posted before the Goldwater Bamana publication at the beginning of the 1960th was edited. sold

180

A Bamana maternity of the Doila region, holding two children in itÂ´s hands, naturaal brown to blackened surface. sold

182

A Gwandusu sculpture from the village Blokebougou, about 25 km from Sonogo, 120 km from Segou, the carver was called FanĂŠ. He died highaged and is dead since several years. The sculpture is carved in heavy Lenke wood, has a blackened patina with remnants of oxidised KaritĂŠ. The headdress with its long tresses indicates a high ranking woman. either the wife of the chef de village or of the warlord. sold

184

A Senufo maternity of the Korhogo region, standing without feet on a cylindrical base, holding a child in it´s hands, the slender torso with prominent hanging breasts, the oval head with a protruding mouth, baring it´´ teeth, a domed single crested coiffure; intensive touch patina at the upperarms are showing the purpose of this sculpture: it was used as a Deble, a Rhythm Pounder even on it´s first view it looks like a „normal“ Senufo maternity. ( a similar maternity from the same village with minimal differences). sold

186

A DoÂ´Kamissa scculpture holding a child on its knee, Tamani region, the village unknown, about 50 km from Segou, seated on a rounded stools, the slender torso with a globular abdomen with pointed navel, the tapering, breasts hanging, the openwork arms elongated, the right hand resting on the knee, the ovoid head with a comblike coiffure framed by the elongated pigtails of a married, high ranking woman, signified by the three long pigtails, which are touching the breast and the back of the figure. Only women of chiefs or warlords are alowed to wear these hairdresses.; shiny aged patina, remnants of oxidised karite on heavy, hard lenke wood. 1.800,- Euro

188

A Bamana Maternity of the Megeta region, heavy encrusted, remnants of oxidised karitĂŠ. sold

190

A Bamana Maternity of the Tamani region, about fifty km from Segou, oxidised karitĂŠ patina, traces of age and longlasting ritual use. In about ten years all these Bamana sculptures, from which we collected more than 2 -, all coming from longlasting ritual use - will not exist in this region anymore, not described in literature, only by the archived informations we did in this area. 1.600,- Euro One related exemplare of a Dokamissa sculpture

192

A Bamana Meret, decorated with metal sheets and two seated figures, posted on a four leg stool, backened patina, sign of a repair. 800,- Euro

194

A Bamana Gwandusu Araba seated on a one leg stool, the hands touching the hanging, curved breasts, the carver is called „Fana“, the sculpture was collected at the Toubakoro village, about 70 km from Segou of the Western side of the Niger river. According of our fieldwork in this region „the Gwandusu Araba is the only Gwandusu without a child and is extremly rare.

sold

196

A Dan Materntiy with a child on its back, sold

198

A Lobi Maternity, standing on block-shaped feet, slightly bent legs, the torso with prominent navel, hanging naturalistic breasts, asymetric shoulders, one slender, elongated arm carved close to the body, the other holding a child, a conical neck supporting an ovoid head, the retangular nose framed by pod-shaped eyes and semicircular ears; partly encrusted patina with remains of natural brownish surface, dark-reddish oxidised, heavy, hard wood. sold

200

A female Baule maternity seated on a two legs stool beneath a rectangular eroded base, the hands resting on the knees, the tapering breasts in slightly hanging position, a thick neck is supporting a large head with fine fascial features; natural brownish surface, traces of abrasions. 800,- Euro

202

A female Dan maternity, standing on wedgshaped feet, the legs segmented and painted with kaolin close to the knees, the torso cylindrical with geometric scarification patterns, the breasts hanging, the arms carved close to the body, the analogous to the legs stylized and painted neck supporting a large head with a threeparted, striated coiffure; blackened and glossy patina, an age crack on the right side of the head 900,- Euro

204

A Bozo, Sogo bĂ˛ maternity, seated on a four leg stool, two children holding on her thighs, beneath protrudig breasts, a short thick neck sourmouted by globular head wit a fourparted, elaborated coiffure; colourful painted patina, black spots on a white surface, rediish painted lips and eye lids. not for sale

206

A Bamana Gwandusu Maternity of the Doila region, standing on blockshaped feet, the torso with a protruding abdomen, prominent conical breasts beneath rounded shoulders, an elongated neck supporting the oval head with a caplike coiffure, the hair dressed as three tresses falling over each shoulder and down to the back below the crested cap, extremly heavy hard wood with signs of high age (s. detai photos) dark glossy patina, in particular at the child at the back, white remnants of a oxidised sacrification patina. Exhibited at the â&#x20AC;&#x17E;Festival sur le Niger, Segou 2010â&#x20AC;&#x153;. sold

208

An antique dealer looking at one of his bronzes he has offered me while I take a picture of him. On the left hand side a Dogon bronze of a maternity.

210

A Bamana Bronze Maternity, heavy encrusted patina Height: 9 cm sold

212

A Bamana Bronze maternity with a vessel on its head. Height 8 cm sold

214

A Lobi Maternity of Sib KoukourĂŠ, Latara, who past away in 2014, 1.200,- Euro

216

A Dogon Maternity, bronze; heavy encrusted, greenish patina, partly eroded. sold

218

220

A Dogon bronze in bent position, one hand at the upperarm and the other resting on the knee; heavy encrusted, greenish patina. sold

222

A Dokamissa from Toumakoro region, Nadani village, this sculpture the second woman after Muso Massa, a type of sculpture we collected several times in the Saro region. According of the traditional Bamana law the first child of Muso Massa has to be given to Dokamissa the second woman in the familial hierarchy of

the women, if Dokamissa hasnÂ´t at that moment no child, the first child of Muso Massa has always the name Sujulu Kuruma and the first child of Sukulu Kuruma has always the name Sunjata Keita., which shows the Bamana society has much more named familial relations than we know. It would be a great challenge to find out the sociological reason for this particualarity sold

224

226

Wie ich glaubte, daß mich eine Maternity vor einer Entführung rettete. Nachts um vier angsterfüllt aufgewacht. Sie - meine Freundin - fragte mich in meinem Traum, in was für Hotels ich denn in Afrika wohnen würde und wie die denn so seien. Ich konnte mich an keines erinnern und schämte mich deswegen, weil ich wusste, dass sie eine Vorliebe für Hotels hatte. Natürlich habe ich in Wirklichkeit Dutzende Erinnerungen an Hotels und alle möglichen Herbergen, in denen ich auf meinen vielen Reisen durch Westafrika gewohnt hatte. Doch das seltsamste Hotelnacht war wohl in Mopti, im Norden Malis, der jetzt in der von Islamisten beherrscht Region meiner Wahlheimat liegt. Ich wohnte im „Campment“, einer billigen Absteige, die von einem Araber aus Gao geführt wurde. Kaum war ich eingeschlafen als ich hörte, dass jemand versuchte von Außen in das Türschloss mit einem Schüssel oder Dietrich einzudringen.

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Dies gelang nicht, weil mein Schlüssel von Innen steckte und die Tür verschlossen war. Daraufhin klopfte man an der Tür und eine befehlende, männliche Stimme forderte mich auf, sofort aufzumachen. Die Haare standen mir zu Berge und ich wagte nicht zu antworten. Man wusste also wegen des Schüssels auf der Innenseite des Schlosses dass ich „hier war“. Es trommelte an der Tür. Bis jemand sich ich hörte inzwischen, mehrere Stimmen - an die hölzerne Tür warf, um gewaltsam in das Zimmer einzudringen.Ich befürchtete, dass die Tür nachgeben und aus den Angeln springen würde. Da kam mir der Gedanke, die Tür von Innen zusätzlich so zu verriegeln, indem ich mein Bett vor die Tür schob und vom Bettkasten zur Wand sperrte ich jene große Maternity, die ich Tags zuvor erworben hatte, sodass selbst, wenn das Schloss nachgeben würde, ein Eindringen kaum möglich wäre. Es war eine große Maternity, Dokamissa oder Gwandusu - so genau erinnere ich mich nicht mehr - die mich, so schien es, vor einer erwarteten Entführung gerettet hatte, denn obwohl der Bart des Schlosses brach oder sich verbog und nachgab war ein Eindringen nicht möglich, denn Bett und Materity „Mutter mit Kind“ versperrten das völlige Öffnen der Tür. Am nächsten Tag stellte sich heraus, daß alles ein Irrtum war. Es waren betrunkene Blauhelmsoldaten, die ebenfalls im Campment wohnten, sich in der Etage geirrt hatte und mit Gewalt versuchten in ihr vermeintliches Zimmer einzudringen. versuchten. WJ