Catalog: Vintage Arts (73)

Tibetan snuff bottle of flat shape made of silver with a lavish embossed decor representing Tibetan Tantric Budhism deities, fistly Acala, one of the eight Dharmapalas holding a sword in his right hand on one side, and secondly one of the Dakinis on the other side. Each deity is gilt and backed by a flaming aureola surrounded by a floral design. Other parts of the bottle are partly gilt. The bottle also shows coral and turquoise inserts...

Pua kumbu woven on cotton to represent chimeras, birds together with foliage and geometric design. Natural red, brown, white and blue colours. This pua kumbu is made of two parts stitched together. Sarawak (Eastern Malaysia), Iban peoples. Length: 228 cm. Width: 107 cm. Very good condition. Acquired in Singapore in 1978.

Important mask of the "kiwoyo muyombo" type, of elongated shape, with a protruding forehead and fine features, surmounted by a highly stylized cylindrical coiffe, and a long "beard" decorated in relief with bicolored lozenges and framed by weaved bamboo slices. Fine glossy patina. Africa, Gabon, Pende Peoples. Height: 45 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Small losses, otherwise very good condition.

A finely carved lime box, its body in the form of a cone surmounting a flaring cylinder, decorated with three levels of an elaborate geometric design which is changing at each level. The stopper itself is decorated with two human heads back to back surmounting the neck adorned with a necklace. A bone spoon and a bone point are attached to the stopper, the link adorned with wood beads and tiny old glass beads. Fine age patina. Indonesia, Timor island. Height: 16.5 cm. Very good condition.

Pua kumbu woven on cotton to represent chimeras, birds together with foliage and geometric design. Natural red, brown and blue colours. Sarawak (Eastern Malaysia), Iban peoples. Length: 220 cm. Width: 117 cm. Very good condition. Acquired in Singapore in 1978.

Feminine figure of the "ekwotame" type, of typical face, with a squarish neck, sitting on a circular stool, her hands on her knees. Scarifications alongside the abdomen. Wood, with black and white pigments. Africa, Nigeria, Benue river region, Idoma ethnic group. Height: 63 cm. Some erosion, small losses, otherwise very good condition. Shipping charges: 50 euros worldwide.

Statue of an ancestor or deity designed for the protection of a household, standing in a praying posture, with a very expressive face. Wood, age patina. Nepal, early 20th century. Height: 4é cm. The piece is mounted on a custom metal stand. Age cracks, some erosion, otherwise very good condition.

Dance mask,of the "zakpai" type, with typical red textile around the eyes and lips. Wood, fine dark semi-glossy patina. Eyes circled with white metal. Hair arranged in braids made of weaved rope, likewise the long beard. Teeth made of animal claws. Africa, Ivory Coast/Liberia, Dan ethnic group. Total height: 44 cm. Height of mask: 24 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a metal custom stand. Obvious signs of long use and wear, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: old French collection...

Small dance mask made of a turtle shell at its center, in a kind of frame made of soil and sagotree resin with multiple cowries inserts and painted in red, white and black, surrounded with remnants of cassowary feathers. Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik region, Palimbei, Iatmul ethnic group. Mid 20th century period. Height: 21 cm. A few small old accidents, otherwise very good condition. Provenance: old Italian collection. IMPORTANT NOTE: export ONLY to the European Community.

A finely carved male ibeji, with typical coiffe, scarifications on the abdomen and the back, arms alongside the torso, standing on a rounded base. Wood, with nice dark brown semi glossy patina. Africa, Nigeria/Benin, Yoruba ethnic group. Height: 30 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: Old French provincial collection.

Helmet "ngontang" mask with four faces of circular form and a top of cross form. Wood with white and black pigments. Old collection mark inside. Africa, Gabon, Fang ethnic group. Height: 19.5 cm. Diameter: 15.5 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Abrasion, otherwise good condition. Provenance: French provincial auction sale.

Rare "Mbangu" deformity mask, showing a distorted face. Wood, with traces of black and white pigments. Africa, Gabon, Pende Peoples. Height: 12" (30 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old accident restored locally, chips, age cracks, otherwise good condition. NOTE: Representations of distorted faces are rare in African art. They symbolize the effects of epileptic crisis, which are supposed to be a manifestation of the spirits...

Ritual spoon, its handle carved in the shape of a male ancestor wearing cap and bracelets on arms and legs. A very rare feature is that the ancestor is also wearing a Christian cross at the end of a long necklace. Indonesia, Flores Island. Height: 8 7/16" (21,5 cm). Old accident, restored locally, at the junction between the spoon and the handle, tiny chips, otherwise good condition. A truly rare piece.

"Gorfa" milk container, made of calabash covered with tightly woven vegetal fibers, with a leather handle partly decorated with cowries. The gorfa is also covered with leather and wood protection, and its foot is decorated with cowries. Ethiopia, Borana Peoples. Height: 21.2 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: The Borana society is build around the maintenance of cattle, which are their prime source of sustenance. Milk and yogurt also are staples of the Borana diet...

Black mask with an unusual slightly conical coiffe. Africa, Gabon, Punu Peoples. Height: 12 " ( 30 cm). The mask is nicely mounted on a custom metal stand. Old accidents and infestations (no danger), otherwise good condition. NOTE 1: A similar mask is in the Dapper Museum collection in Paris, published in "Masques" Editions Dapper 1995, 2000, 2006 Paris, page 89. NOTE 2: Punu masks are worn during funerals by members of the "Mukuji" Society and are meant to represent ancestors.

Tattoo ink container of cylindrical shape decorated with a monkey in relief, in a rather aggressive posture, holding the container with its four paws. Wood, with a fine dark brown patina. The piece is nicely mounted on a custom plexi stand. Height (without stand): 6.5 cm. Old restoration on one of the limbs (almost invisible), otherwise very good condition.

Nicely carved feminine fetish with a fine coiffe, serene face with lowered lids, elongated neck, holding her breasts with both hands, and showing scarifications around her belly. Wood, with fine dark glossy patina. A piece of old textile of red color is meant to represent a skirt. Africa, D.R. Congo, Luba ethnic group. Height: 9 3/8" (23,7 cm). The figurine is mounted on a custom metal stand. Remnants of old insect infestation, (no danger), otherwise very good condition.

Important and rare mask carved in wood fungus, of the tinder fungus type (fomes fomentarius), of rounded triangular form, with perforated oval eyes, incised mouth and nose in relief, probably added. Length: 30 cm. Height: 18.7 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Very good condition. NOTE: the tinder fungus is a parasite which grows particularly on the birch tree...