New Acquisitions at Jacaranda

Jacaranda is now offering a stunning new selection of tribal works at www.jacarandatribal.com.  Congolese and southern African wood carvings form the bulk of the objects on display, including a beautiful Sundi or Teke bust, a fine Mpondo staff finial, and headrests from the Shona and Luba. These are joined by a handsome pair of South Pacific weapons, a remarkable Ethiopian cross, and more.

For full details on these fine objects and many others, please visit

www.jacarandatribal.com

Cross  -  Ethiopia  -  ca 1700–1750

Headrest  -  Luba, D.R. Congo  -  Late 19th or early 20th century

Beaded snuff gourd  -  Southeast Africa  -  Late 19th/early 20th century

Hand club, patu onewa  -  Maori, New Zealand  -  18th or early 19th century

Cup  -  Kuba, D.R. Congo  -  19th century

Lance, katoua  -   Niue  -  19th century

Pipe  -  Kuba or Binji, D.R. Congo  -  Early 20th century

Bust  -  Sundi or Teke, D.R. Congo  -  Late 19th or early 20th century

Staff finial  -  Mpondo, South Africa  -  1870–1890

Headrest  -  Shona, Zimbabwe  -  Late 19th or early 20th century

Horn necklace  -  Zulu, South Africa  -  19th century

Bag handle  -  Eskimo, North America  -  Late 19th century

Images ©James Worrell 2015

www.jacarandatribal.com

New Acquisitions at Jacaranda

Jacaranda is now presenting a new online exhibition of fine tribal art and artifacts from Africa, Polynesia, New Guinea, and elsewhere. This fresh round of offerings includes an imposing Dan mask with canine teeth, a gorgeous Luba headrest, a wide range of well preserved Pacific clubs, Nguni beadwork from South Africa, and more. For greater detail on all these objects and many, many more, visit jacarandatribal.com

Mask  -  Dan, Liberia or Côte d'Ivoire  -  Early 20th century

Lance, katoua  -  Niue  -  19th century

Stick with figural finial  -  South Africa  -  Late 19th or early 20th century

Headrest  -  Shona, Zimbabwe  -  Late 19th or early 20th century

Headrest  -  Luba, D.R. Congo  -  Late 19th or early 20th century

Three tapa beaters  -  Polynesia  -  18th and 19th century

War club, macana  -  Arawak, Guyana  -  18th or early 19th century

Five clubs  -  Australian Aboriginal  -  19th century

Rootstock club  -  Fiji  -  Early 19th century

Pole club, bowai  -  Fiji  -  18th or early 19th century

Six stone-headed clubs  -  New Guinea  -  19th century

Beaded belt  -  Zulu, South Africa  -  Late 19th or early 20th century

Beaded apron, inkciyo  -  Thembu or Mfengu, South Africa  -  Late 19th or early 20th century  

Beaded tobacco bag  -  Xhosa, South Africa  -  Early 20th century

Images ©James Worrell & Jacaranda Tribal 2015

www.jacarandatribal.com

Nelson-Atkins Gift for 75th: Headrest

Headrest, African, Attributed to the Master of the Cascade Coiffure, Luba peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo, late 19th – early 20th century. Wood, glass beads, and copper, 5 5/16 x 4 ½ x 3 ½ inches. Promised gift of Adele and Donald Hall in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 14.2010.2.

High-ranking Luba women and men slept with headrests such as this to protect elaborate hairstyles, which indicated civilized refinement and both exterior and interior beauty. This headrest is attributed to the “Master of the Cascade Coiffure,” one of the most renowned 19th-century Luba artists. With its animated female figure, it is an outstanding representative of the diminutive, elegantly carved headrests attributed to this artist, or workshop.

Dan Chair, Xhosa Pipes, Bena Lulua Headrest Profiles

For the next several weeks, we will be profiling specific pieces from the Marc & Denyse Ginzberg collection available at Jacaranda Tribal Art Gallery. A complete selection, including pictures and descruptions, of our exhibition of the collection can be seen at our website www.JacarandaTribal.com.

Dan, Mano or Guere Chair from Liberia. Chairs like this fine example were utilized by their owner not only as private and personal objects but also as status markers and prestige objects for tribal chiefs. Dr J.H. Furbay, President of the College of West Africa in Monrovia, Liberia, from 1936 to 1938, reported that a chair was always carried by a chief’s attendant because it was believed that a Chief without his chair was without his dignity. In addition to the fine carving, this object has a distinctly fine patina obtained from years of valued use. As with all of the objects in the Ginzberg Collection, this chair is an exceptionally fine example of a late 19^th century or early 20^th century chair from the region.

Xhosa or South Nguni Pipes from South Africa. Pipes of all forms, shapes and materials have been used by people and tribes of Southern African for centuries. Africans used pipes in religious rites and other ceremonies, and more commonly for practical purposes. Many individuals in a tribe owned and used pipes as smoking was practiced by people of all ages and genders. Especially fine objects were seen as status markers or prestige objects for highly respected members of a tribe. These pipes, from the Ginzberg collection, are particularly interesting because they have a distinct European influence in their design while retaining clear local innovation and techniques. The intricate designs and motifs in these pipes were carved by master African artisans who then filled the groves with molten pewter lead.

Bena Lulua or Luba Headrest from Congo. In many African cultures, small wooden "pillows" were used to support the head during sleep and in some instances to preserve a hairstyle. The Ginzberg collection has many exceptionally fine examples, several of which are on display on our website. This fine example from the Congo boasts satisfying proportions and distinctly geometric and nonfigurative carving. In addition, the object has a deep red patina from decades of use.

We will be profiling additional objects in the coming weeks. Make sure to check back again.