Nigeria

Pair of bracelets: Crocodile Heads, Edo peoples, Nigeria, Court of Benin, 17th–19th century. Brass, gilt. H. 5 1/4 x W. 3 3/8 in. (13.3 x 8.6 cm). Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991, 1991.17.80 & 1991.17.81. © 2000–2018 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The oba and chiefs of Benin wear pairs of ornate bracelets at palace festivals. Long and cylindrical, these cufflike ornaments may be made of either ivory or brass and display imagery reflecting the exalted status of their bearers.  The spiral... [Lire la suite]

Bracelet, Edo peoples, Nigeria, Court of Benin, 1550–1680 (?). Ivory, copper (?). H. 5 1/8 x Diam. 3 9/16 in. (13 x 9 cm). The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1964, 1978.412.340. © 2000–2018 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At palace festivals, the king and chiefs of Benin wear pairs of long, cylindrical bracelets made of ivory or brass decorated with images that symbolize royal power. On this example, images of mudfish and Portuguese heads--both referring to... [Lire la suite]

Hip Ornament: Face, Edo peoples, Nigeria, Court of Benin, 16th–17th century. Brass. H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm). Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991, 1991.17.49. © 2000–2018 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Benin history, religion, and political structure are brought to life every year in a series of palace rituals intended to purify the kingdom and renew the spiritual powers of the king, the oba. Many of these vivid and solemn rites were introduced by individual obas in order to commemorate events in their reigns... [Lire la suite]

Head of Iyoba, Edo peoples, Nigeria, Court of Benin, 18th–19th century. Brass (cast), iron. H. 21 in. × W. 10 1/2 in. × D. 10 3/4 in. (53.3 × 26.7 × 27.3 cm). Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991, 1991.17.4. © 2000–2018 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. In the Benin kingdom, the iyoba, or mother of the oba (king), occupies an important and historically significant place within Benin's political hierarchy. The title was first conferred upon Idia, the mother of king Esigie, who used her... [Lire la suite]

Kneeling female figure holding an offering bowl, Nigeria, Iwa Yoruba people, 19th century. Wood. H 32 cm. © Serge Schoffel - Art Premier at BRAFA 2019, Stand 9c. Provenance: Ralph Nash, London 1960s; William W. Brill, New York, ref. no. 475-A; Sotheby’s, New York, 17 November 2006, lot 52 Literature: Selections from the William W. Brill collection of African art, exhibition catalogue, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, 5 May-31 August 1969, p. 25, n° 36; The Duluth News-tribune, 8 February 1970, p. 6; 'La... [Lire la suite]

Statue of an armed warrior ancestor Wipong, Nigeria, Jukun Kingdom, from 14th to 18th century. Wood. H 70 cm. © Pierre Dartevelle at BRAFA 2019, Stand 21c. Provenance: collection Durant-Dessert, France Representation of a female heiress, Mali, Bandiagara escarpment, Tellem people, 17th century. Wood. H 29.8 cm. © Pierre Dartevelle at BRAFA 2019, Stand 21c. Provenance: private collection Monzino, Milan. Songye, Kalewbe group, figure of power, Democratic Republic of the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 141. Important masque epa Yoruba, Nigeria. Bois et pigments colorés. H. 110 cm. Estimation: 15 000 € - 20 000 €. Courtesy Cornette de Saint-Cyr. Comptant parmi les masques les plus monumentaux d'Afrique, les masques epa apparaissent lors d'un festival biannuel destiné à favoriser la cohésion, le bien-être et la santé des communautés villageoises en honorant les ancêtres, les héros culturels et les personnalités locales telles que les rois, les chasseurs, les mères, les prêtres, et les... [Lire la suite]

MONTREAL.- Cette saison, le Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal (MBAM) invite à une réflexion sur les enjeux liés à la « décolonisation du regard », et aux perceptions identitaires, esthétiques et culturelles à travers deux expositions : D’Afrique aux Amériques : Picasso en face-à-face, d’hier à aujourd’hui et Nous sommes d’ici, ici : l’art contemporain des Noirs canadiens, présentées en complémentarité. D’Afrique aux Amériques : Picasso en face-à-face, d’hier à aujourd’huiétudie les transformations du regard porté... [Lire la suite]

Lot 2466. Large and Impressive Rubellite Tourmaline, Nigeria, weighing approximately 85.27 carats and measuring 27.59 x 20.43 x 15.86mm mm. Sold for US$ 37,500 (€31,637) inc. premium. Photo: Bonhams. Faceted as a cut-cornered emerald-cut with scissors-cut crown facets, this is a world class tourmaline by any measure. Notable for its large size, which still allows it to be mounted as a ring or pendant and its exceptional clarity and deep, pinkish red color. This is a stone worthy of attention by the most serious collector.... [Lire la suite]

Reliquary figure (Byeri), Fang-Ntumu or Fang-Ngumba (Cameroon), 19th or 20th century, wood, brass / Enthroned Mother of God (Sedes Sapientiae), Presbyter Martinus, Tuscany (Italy), poplar wood with original mount, acquired in 1887 in Florence © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Martin Franken / Skulpturensammlung und Museum für Byzantinische Kunst / Antje Voigt © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Martin Franken / Skulpturensammlung und Museum für Byzantinische Kunst / Antje Voigt.  ... [Lire la suite]