Namji (also called Dowayo), Northern Cameroon: A fertility doll of the Namji, given to the bride as a gift by her groom.
Namji (also called Dowayo), Northern Cameroon: A fertility doll of the Namji, given to the bride as a gift by her groom.
When a young Namji man courst a girl and wishes to marry her, such a doll is carved. The man gives it as a gift to his chosen one. She wears the doll in her clothes with her, signalling her agreement. The present Namji doll shows the characteristic, ‘classical’ type of such a figure: standing rigid, with heavily stylised head and crested coiffure, with long neck and almost ‘abstract’ bent arms and legs. The neck and the body are densely wrapped with red glass bead necklaces. From the neck and from the right hand hang three pierced cowrie shells on leather bands. The body is decorated front and back with delicate, etched crosslines. Her genitalia are indicated. A piece with good, old usage patina. No appreciable damage. H: 36 cm; W: ca. 14 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)
Provenance: According to the information of the consignor, acquired in 1975 directly from the Namji, in the Mandara mountains in northern Cameroon. Since then: Austrian Private Collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
02.11.2015 - 14:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 600.-
Namji (also called Dowayo), Northern Cameroon: A fertility doll of the Namji, given to the bride as a gift by her groom.
When a young Namji man courst a girl and wishes to marry her, such a doll is carved. The man gives it as a gift to his chosen one. She wears the doll in her clothes with her, signalling her agreement. The present Namji doll shows the characteristic, ‘classical’ type of such a figure: standing rigid, with heavily stylised head and crested coiffure, with long neck and almost ‘abstract’ bent arms and legs. The neck and the body are densely wrapped with red glass bead necklaces. From the neck and from the right hand hang three pierced cowrie shells on leather bands. The body is decorated front and back with delicate, etched crosslines. Her genitalia are indicated. A piece with good, old usage patina. No appreciable damage. H: 36 cm; W: ca. 14 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)
Provenance: According to the information of the consignor, acquired in 1975 directly from the Namji, in the Mandara mountains in northern Cameroon. Since then: Austrian Private Collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 02.11.2015 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 28.10. - 02.11.2015 |