Kwele, Gabon: An old mask with a white face and black horns.
The Kwele or Bakwele live in northeast Gabon, across the border with Kongo and Cameroon. Their neighbours include the Fang, Kota and Mahongwe. The present Kwele mask features a black-dyed hairstyle and a pair of black antelope horns (typical Kwele!). The face is coloured in white with kaolin. The long eyebrows, the short, wide nose as well as the ears are accentuated in black. The slightly protruding, small mouth in the form of a horizontal ‘8’ is dyed red. A rare, visibly old piece with impressive usage patina (especially on the inside!) and with minor age damage (colour scuffed and small pieces broken off of the horns’ front, a fracture on the reverse to the upper edge). First half of the 20th century; H: 42 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Lit.: ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 361.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 6,250.-
- Estimate:
-
EUR 9,000.- to EUR 10,000.-
Kwele, Gabon: An old mask with a white face and black horns.
The Kwele or Bakwele live in northeast Gabon, across the border with Kongo and Cameroon. Their neighbours include the Fang, Kota and Mahongwe. The present Kwele mask features a black-dyed hairstyle and a pair of black antelope horns (typical Kwele!). The face is coloured in white with kaolin. The long eyebrows, the short, wide nose as well as the ears are accentuated in black. The slightly protruding, small mouth in the form of a horizontal ‘8’ is dyed red. A rare, visibly old piece with impressive usage patina (especially on the inside!) and with minor age damage (colour scuffed and small pieces broken off of the horns’ front, a fracture on the reverse to the upper edge). First half of the 20th century; H: 42 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Lit.: ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 361.
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: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |
** Purchase price incl. charges and taxes
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