Tribal Art Sale - Zemanek-Münster

Zemanek-Münster will present its 77th sale of tribal art and artifacts on June 28 in Würzburg.  The large group of offerings (numbering over 560) will include works from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, South Asia, the Americas, and all over Africa.

View the online catalogue.

Reliquary figure  -  Fang, Equatorial Guinea

Bronze figure  -  Benin, Nigeria

Rice god, bul'ul  -  Ifugao, Philippines

Images courtesy of Zemanek-Münster

Zemanek-Münster's 62nd Tribal Art Auction This Saturday

Zemanek-Münster's 62nd Tribal Art Auction takes place this Saturday, September 4, 2010.

The auction features a substantial amount of authentic old objects from Africa, America and Oceania. Over 500 objects are featured in the catalog, with highlights from Gabon, Nigeria, Mali, the Ivory Coast, Congo and Indonesia.

A special section is reserved for the region of East Africa, and in particular, Tanzania. Some 200 objects, all a part of the former exhibition "Tansania - Glaube, Kult und Geisterwelt" are included. The exhibit, shown in 2007 in the "Kultur-und Stadthistorische Museum" of the city of Duisburg and in 2009, in the "Haus der Volker," Schwaz (Austria), displays works from the private collection of Ralf Schulte-Bahrenberg.

Schulte-Bahrenberg (1934-2010) was responsible for organizing local jazz festivals in his native Germany. He was best known for his role as co-organizer of the German concerts of pop music sensations- The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

The tribal art auction house Zemanek-Münster, is located in Würzburg, Germany. Established in 1978, they are Europe's only auction house specializing exclusively in non-European, fine tribal art. Holding four auctions a year, Zemanek-Münster features a variety of works of the Luba, Baule, Lobi, Senufo, Songye, Fang and Punu tribes, as well as works from Oceania.

The auction takes place Saturday at 2 pm at their location in Würzburg.

Source: Zemanek-Münster

It is the 61st Tribal Art Auction from Zemanek-Munster. Click here to visit the online catalog of lots.

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 462

Neck rest with zoomorphic form. Probably Ngoni, Malawi (although described as Nguni, South Africa).

Wood, small residues of dark brown patina, red glass beads (eyes), four conical-shaped legs supporting a slightly vaulted pillow with stylized head and tail, the body marked by a tapering abdomen with incised triangular ornaments and small diamond-shaped opening, slightly dam., scratches, paint rubbed off, small cavity (left foreleg); the neck rest belonged to Wilhelm Pohlig, a Sanitary Sergeant serving in the Guardian Forces of General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck in German East Africa. Wilhelm Pohlig's son, Helmut, was six years old, when the colony collapsed after several years of grim resistance. He and his mother were the last citizens of the empire who left the colony. The death of his father, who died of a severe malaria attack in a British Military Hospital, prevented them to leave the country in time. Just on personal intervention of General Lettow-Vorbeck a last ship was allowed to land and embark Helmut and his mother in the harbour of Dar es Salam. Neckrests served as pillows and preserved the elaborate and artificial coiffures during sleep.

Length: 36 cm; Height: 17 cm.

Estimate: 30,000 - 60,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 418

Neckrest. Yaka, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Wood, brown patina, in shape of a quadruped, supporting a rectangular pillow with curved sides, decorated with metal tags, min. dam., small missing parts, traces of insect caused damage, on wooden base; elaborate coiffures necessitate an object of traditional furniture as a headrest "musaw". When lying on one's side, this small object supports the head just below the ear at the junction of neck and head. It is probable that most Yaka headrests had a charm packet inserted into a prepared cavity, or charms where otherwise attached. This served to protect the owner from malevolent influences while sleeping.

Height: 16 cm; Length: 30 cm.

Estimate: 10000 - 20000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 353

Pair of ancestor figures. Mangbetu, Democratic Eepublic of Congo, Area of Uele.

Wood, honey brown patina, dark brown paint (coiffure), strings of fabric with attached animal claws, a male and a female, with compact bodies, showing voluminous, round forms, the arms worked in flat relief, while the hands are elaborate carved and show different gestures, crowned by cylindrical coiffures, enhancing the elegant length of the heads, slightly dam., minor missing parts (right ear of the female), hairline cracks, place of repair (both feet of the male figure), on base; a work of Dopia Mototo. A figurative bark box of the same artist was auctioned at Sotheby's New York (May 19, 2000, lot 269). The attribution is clearly proven, stylistical and by inscription: "DOPIA MOTOTO NA BAKENGE ASSALI". It came from Egon Geunther, Johannesburg, former Emil Storrer, Zurich. A further closely related example of a male bark box is kept in the collection of the Hamburg, Museum für Völkerkunde (Zwernemann/Lohse, 1985, ill. 179). Present figures, as well as the two figural bark boxes are nice examples for the naturalistic tendency in Mangbetu art. The Mangbetu settle along the banks of Bomokandi River in Northeastern Zaire. In former times they had a prosperous kingdom. Mangbetu art in general is court-oriented, and was reserved for the ruling classes. It reflected wealth, and prestige of its owners and therefore was mainly restricted on the design of basic commodities and ritual objects. Figures are rather rare and can be looked upon as ancestor figures in general. Their style is affected by a lengthened skull, the most outstanding beauty ideal of Mangbetu aristocracy. Individuals of advanced age among the Mangbetu still designate these statues by the name "beli". According to them, they were used in hidden locals by the secret society of the name "nebeli". The rare witnesses we have to these Nebeli rites confirm the existence of statuettes of spirits or ancestors, kept at these secret places.

Height: 45 cm.

Estimate: 50,000 - 100,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 268

Face mask "ngil.” Fang, Gabon.

Wood, small residues of brown patina and kaolin, characteristic elongated face with a concave heart-shaped vaulted facial plane, eyes and mouth in narrow slits, the coiffure unusual for the mask type, consisting of a three-parted middle crest and lobes aside, typically painted with a thick layer of kaolin, backside in the chin area pierced around the rim, slightly dam. (coiffure, right eye), cracks (above all at the right corner of the mouth/chin), minor missing parts on the upper rim backside; the white painted "ngil"-face masks represent a mask tradition, extinguished since the middle of the 20th century. According insufficient is our knowledge about these masks. The typical face painting with white kaolin, reminds of the power of the ancestors and implies that the mask represents the spirit of a deceased. The mask figures wore raffia costumes. Their frightening and deterrent effect was enhanced by the fact that they mostly appeared during the night with flaring light. It's affiliation to the "ngil" society, is controversial nowadays. Essentially there are known three mask types of the Fang. Aside the "ngil" there are the so-called "ekekek" masks, appearing as demons for a secret society, as well as the multi-faced "ngontang" helmet masks. They are said to represent the ghost of the white woman, a powerful spirit, detecting and punishing sorcerers.

Height: 39 cm.

Estimate: 70,000 - 150,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 258

Reliquary Guardian Figure. Fang-Beti, Mabea, Southern Cameroon.

Wood, matt reddish brown patina, traces of black paint, seated posture, the stylized hands touch each other, mirror glass eyes with metal framing, metal foils on the shoulders and in the area of the abdomen, as well as on the face (scarifications), slightly dam., cracks (head, upper part of the body), missing parts (both foot tips), on base; on the buttocks, we can identify the remainder of sawn wood, indicating that the figure was part of a "byeri" ensemble. Originally, she sat as a guardian on a high, drum-shaped bark container, or on a basket, which contained relics of the founder of a clan, but frequently also skulls and bones of other men and women, who had distinguished themselves in the clan community. All "byeri" ancestor figures originally were decorated with a headdress of feathers "aseng", which is proved by the drilled holes in the coiffure of present figure. Possibly the valuable feathers were kept, when selling the figure. Only special initiated men were allowed to view the contents of these containers, which were brought outdoors on specific occasions to receive offerings. The extraordinary outlines of these figures were clearly visible in the twilight of the shacks, where they were kept. Moreover, the shine of the bright mirror glass eyes, as well as the reflections of the brass foils created a threatening impression. To obtain the metal foils, the Fang used european brass plates, called "Neptuns". There are various proposals concerning the meaning of the reliquary figures, they are considered as memorial figures, portraits of the deceased, sometimes they are connected with a kind of reincarnation cult. The Fang only migrated about 300 years ago to their present settlements, either expelling or assimilating the local residents. The term Fang implies a population consisting of numerous subgroups, living in the south-western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and in the north-western Gabon. A clear assignment of their works of art is quite difficult. When regarding head and neck, the present figure could be attributed to the Mabea. While the fitting with metal sheet in the shoulder area, as well as the mirror glass eyes with metal framing and the geometrical-cubistic conception of the fgure as a whole refers to the Ngumba, Southern Cameroon.

Height: 49 cm, 19th century.

Estimate: 80,000 - 150,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 252

Head crest "tu ngünga." Bamum, Cameroon.

Wood, reddish brown shiny patina with traces of black paint, the structure of the face consisting of arching brows, merging into a slender nose, completed by a protruding square mouth below, the remaining components increasing the expressive effect: conical protruding eyeballs and "balloon-like" inflated cheeks, accompanied by flap-like projections, crowned by a coiffure in two bulbous lobes with burled structure, slightly dam., minor missing parts (neck, chin, cheeks), on block-like base; possibly once belonging to the war society "nsorro", which performed masquerades on the occasion of funeral ceremonies. The head crest was completed by a female partner. Nowadays "nsorro" is danced for entertainment, on festive occasions in Fumban and in the Bamum palace. The crest can be attributed to the artist "Ndam nji Mare" from the village of Makoutam. There are several head crests coming from the Malantuen area showing such striking similar features, that all of them can be attributed to "nji mare". One of them came to the Musée de l' Homme in Paris in 1934. As a highlight of the museum it was even published on a postcard. A further crest once belonged to the painter Maurice de Vlaminck and was exhibited in 2008 in the Rietberg Museum in Zurich.

Height: 50 cm, 19/20th Century

Estimate: 20,000 - 40,000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 97

Amulet. Atié, Ivory Coast.

Gold, disc-shaped, showing delicate decorations and an anthropomorphic face, on metal base; standard: ca. 15-16 k, weight: ca. 13 g; those amulets belonging to the most skilful and precious gold works of the Akan, showing elaborate coiffures, beards and scarification marks.

Measurements: 5.2 x 5.2 cm.

Estimate: 2500 - 5000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 82

Pair of figures "bateba phuwe." Lobi, Burkina Faso.

Wood, greyish-brown encrusted (sacrificial) patina, a male and a female figure, regular, schematized features, "phisa" coiffure, slightly dam, minor missing parts (foot tips), cracks, the upper layer of the encrusted surface removed in some areas (insect caused damage), on blocklike base; regarding the modelling of arms and legs or special details like the grooved spine, both figures seem to be uniform. But considered as a whole the female figure is much more perfected, shoulders, breast- and back-area are modelled more powerful and harmonious, so that the bigger female can be regarded as the work of a master, while the male might be a work of a scholar or workshop. The analog patina in any case points to a common place of original location. According to the Lobi, god once sent the "thila" to the people, who should take care of their well-being and should sustain the organization of society. The "thila" used to contact men, more rarely women, and order the building of a shrine and the carving of the "bateba" figures. The sooth sayer "buor" acts as mediator between the "thila" and the people. He is consulted because of various reasons, for example in case of any disaster or sickness. The "bateba" figures come alive and active when they are positioned on a shrine. They combine human appearance and certain superhuman qualities of the "thila", they are their assistants to a certain extent. Accordingly "bateba" are able to recognize witches and fight them, as well as prevent harm, imposed by the witches. They were called "bateba duntundara". At which four types are distinguished: the "bateba phuwe" (the so-called "ordinary bateba"), the "bateba bambar" ("paralyzed bateba"), the "bateba ti puo" ("dangereous persons") and the "bateba ti bala" (the extraordinary persons"). Present figures belong to the ordinary "bateba phuwe", because they show no special gesture or any odd physiological attribute. There is no difference in strength between male and female "bateba", and even the size seems to have no influence on their fighting power. At which "bateba", as big in size as the present ones, are only rare to be found nowadays.

Height: 82 cm (male), 84 cm (female)

Estimate: 18000 - 40000 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview: Lot 11

Ancestor skull "ndambirkus.” Asmat, Area of Ocenep, Papua New Guinea.

Bone, polished, broad bone structure, the lower jaw and the modelled nose missing, as well as the decoration of the eye-sockets with bees wax and seeds, plant fibre headband with coix-seeds and red abrus-seeds, tufts of cassowary feathers and seashells attached, signs of age and usage on the underside, presumably from using the skull as "pillow."

Measurements: 19 x 15 x 40 cm, 1st third of the 20th century

estimate: 2300 - 4500 €

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview

African and Oceanic Tribal Arts are being celebrated at the upcoming 60th Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction. Held in Würzburg, Germany the auction will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2pm. There will also be a preview of the works up for sale from 10am to 7pm on Wednesday, March 10 through Friday March 12. Also, on the day of the auction, potential buyers can come in early, from 9am- 1:30pm, so a last minute peak before the auction officially begins.

Of course, those interested in the African and Tribal works can certainly check them out on the web before hand, by visiting the Online Catalogue.

Stay tuned to the Jacaranda Tribal Blog over the next week as we highlight some most impressive lots up for sale.

Zemanek Tribal Art Auction Results

Zemanek held its tribal art auction last week in Würzburg, Germany. The auction had a disappointing turn out in terms of persons bidding and also the lots available for sale. The sale fared just slightly worse than their last auction in March 2009 - selling only 30% of all lots offered. The best pieces offered for sale were priced around €10,000 with none exceeding €13,000. The object shown below, lot 468 a Figurine of a titled lady, was the highest priced sale fetching a total of €13,000 - well below its low estimate of €18,000. With a sale price that much lower than a stated estimate, the object was most likely available for sale without a reserve price - a very rare occurence in the art world.


On a side note: in this most recent auction, the auction house offered a sale of 'Wunderkammer Naturalia' or objects such as rare skulls, bone fragments, fossilized eggs and such of interest to Natural History aficionados. The one below, lot 9, is the fossilized egg of a daroosaur. It is still available for sale for €400. There were some very interesting and strange pieces available and it is most certainly worth a look, if just for amusement.
Dori Rootenberg
JacarandaTribal.com

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Results

The bi-annual Zemanek-Münster tribal arts auction failed to attract the attention it has become accustomed to. Despite a few major pieces, the quality of objects up for auction this March was generally weaker than we have seen at this auction house in the past. With fewer very fine or museum-quality pieces, the auction house failed to sell a majority of the works.

Only 161 (or 36%) of the 448 pieces sold at the live auction. None of the three pieces that we profiled in our last post about the Zemanek auction sold and all are still available at the auction’s after-sale. A vast majority of the sold lots had a hammer price of €2,000 or below, and many lots sold for fewer than €1,000.

To some extent this drop in quality can be attributed to the general downturn in the world economy. Few collectors are willing to consign their works for auction as the chances of having a work “burned” (or go unsold at auction) are increased. With less access to museum-quality or very fine pieces, the auction quality as a whole has been hurt.

There were just a few notable exceptions:

Lot 125, a standing male ancestor figure called a “Blolo Bian” sold for €22,000. The types of pieces are private sculptures that would have been kept in a sleeping chamber and would have received sacrificial offerings.

Lot 224, a Headdress from Igbo, Nigeria sold for €10,000. The piece is a “gentle "ekpe" ancestor headdress” which is identified by its calm, small-featured face. These types of headdresses are thought to represent the wives of the fierce elephant and monkey spirits.

In both these cases, the quality was of a higher standard than seen across the board at this auction. In a better economic time, there would have been more and better pieces like these. While we are still looking forward to the results of the after-sale which, in poor economic times, may fare as well as a live auction.

Dori Rootenberg

www.JacarandaTribal.com

Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts Auction Preview

The 56^th Zemanek-Münster Tribal Arts auction will be held on Saturday 14 March, 2009 in Würzburg, Germany. The auction house specializes in African and Oceanic tribal arts from private collection. Bidders can preview the collection from Wednesday 11 March to Friday 13 March from 10am to 7pm. The auction takes place on Saturday 14^th from 9am to 1.30pm. If you can’t attend, download the PDF of the catalog.

The live auction includes 448 objects with prices ranging from a low estimate of €80 to a high estimate of €36,000. Some of the highlights include:

Lot 126: a rare “kpan” mask. Estimate: €24,000 – 36,000.

“This type of mask is part of the "goli" masquerade, a day-long performance that involves the entire village population and which displays four pairs of masks. This popular event only takes place during an important event such as the death of a notable or a major celebration. The "kpans" are the last to take part in the ballet, their appearance remaining exceptional; the ornamentation and colors are equally attributed to the two sexes, nothing making it possible to distinguish them clearly and their role remaining ambivalent. Although we still have a great many examples of Baule art, including statuettes and masks, "kpan" masks of this type are quite rare.”

Lot 150: a fine example of a “deangle” mask. Estimate: €18,000 – 27,000

“The "deangle" mask characters belong to circumcision camps ("mbon") of young boys and girls, which are always situated in the holy forest nearby the village. The camp is protected by the invisible forest ghost "nana", who appoints the "deangle" mask characters, which are responsible for food and protection of the young boys and girls. They are not accompanied by musicians and they are not singing and dancing, but moving gracefully and joking with the women, begging them to send plenty of food for the camp. They act as a mediator between camp and village.”

Lot 207: Eket Dance Crest. Estimate €20,000 – 30,000.

“The Eket are a small ethnic group belonging to the Ibibio, settling in about 45 villages. Just like the Ibibio the Eket have an “Ekpo” society, a society of soothsayers, called “Idiong,” a society named after the god of war “Ekong” and the “Ogbom” society worshipping the goddess of fertility. Dance crests like the present were used in “Ogbom” masquerades and could reach a height up to 80 cm. “

Stay tuned for the results.

Dori Rootenberg

www.JacarandaTribal.com

Zemanek-Munster Auction results - Sept. 22, 2007

The 51st Zemanek-Munster Tribal art auction was held today in Wurzburg, Germany. Below are some noteworthy results :

Lot 114 - Ashanti comb - 3,500 EUR
Lot 155 - Senufo staff ex Horstmann - 3,000 EUR
Lot 173 - Bassa female ancestor figure ex Brill - 4,500 EUR
Lot 249 - Dan mask ex Schlag - 19,000 EUR
Lot 257 - Geure mask ex Verite - 6,500 EUR
Lot 400 - Yoruba helmet mask - 11,000 EUR
Lot 457 - Fang figure - 16,000 EUR
Lot 467 - Punu mask - 12,000 EUR
Lot 474 - Bembe ancestor figures - 12,500 EUR
Lot 541 - Songye nkisi ex Kegel-Konietzko- 10,000 EUR
Lot 609 - Herero woman's costume - 9,500 EUR. My personal favorite and way underestimated at 350 EUR. These ensembles are extremely rare and this one had two leather bonnets (pictured above), two leg ornaments and a corset-like garment of ostrich egg shells. Supposedly collected in situ in 1904 - around the time of the Herero uprising which resulted in a genocide of the Herero, inflicted on them by their German colonial masters.

Daniel
JacarandaTribal.com