Information
Hardwood with dark coating
H 63 cm
H 63 cm
Male figure.
Ritual figure used in magic and divination. It depicts an old man balancing a typical wooden container on his head. It was used during divinatory ceremonies and taken to different villages for rituals, which, in the past, also included human sacrifices. The vase balanced on his head was used to carry small portions of food. The shiny coating covering the wood was obtained by mixing palm oil and vegetable fat.
Ritual figure used in magic and divination. It depicts an old man balancing a typical wooden container on his head. It was used during divinatory ceremonies and taken to different villages for rituals, which, in the past, also included human sacrifices. The vase balanced on his head was used to carry small portions of food. The shiny coating covering the wood was obtained by mixing palm oil and vegetable fat.
Provenance
- Former Paolo Morigi collection (Lugano) (collected in 1961);
- George F. Keller antique collection (New York/Davos) (Inv. G.F.K. 152);
- Former private collection (Lugano);
- George F. Keller antique collection (New York/Davos) (Inv. G.F.K. 152);
- Former private collection (Lugano);
Exhibition
- Lugano 1965, Villa Ciani Museum;
- Bern 1980, Musée des Beaux Arts;
- Lugano 2002, Palazzo Riva, Banca Svizzera Italiana (BSI);
- Bern 1980, Musée des Beaux Arts;
- Lugano 2002, Palazzo Riva, Banca Svizzera Italiana (BSI);
Literature
Reproduced in:
- Villa Ciani Museum “Mostra d’arte africana primitiva” Lugano, November 1965, num. 68;
- “Cooperazione Ticinese” Magazine, Lugano, num. 48 of 27 November 1968, page 3;
- MORIGI PAOLO “Raccolta di un amatore d’arte primitiva”, Magliaso, Lugano & Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland 1980, fig. 157, page 155;
- VENTURI LUCA M. “Anime antiche, arte negra, da una raccolta di sculture dell’Africa occidentale” BSI Bank, Lugano 2002, fig. 26;
- Villa Ciani Museum “Mostra d’arte africana primitiva” Lugano, November 1965, num. 68;
- “Cooperazione Ticinese” Magazine, Lugano, num. 48 of 27 November 1968, page 3;
- MORIGI PAOLO “Raccolta di un amatore d’arte primitiva”, Magliaso, Lugano & Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland 1980, fig. 157, page 155;
- VENTURI LUCA M. “Anime antiche, arte negra, da una raccolta di sculture dell’Africa occidentale” BSI Bank, Lugano 2002, fig. 26;
Contact
Condition report
To request a Condition Report, please contact arteafricana@finarte.it
The department will provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that what Finarte declares with respect to the state of conservation of the objects corresponds only to a qualified opinion and that we are not professional conservators or restorers.
We urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. We always suggest prospective buyers to inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition during the exhibition days as indicated in the catalog.