Early 20th C. Nigerian Urhobo Wood Figural Headdress
**Originally Listed At $1300**
Africa, southern Nigeria, near Niger Delta, Urhobo peoples, ca early 20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden female, sitting upon a stool with her hands held together before her; her nude body presenting conical breasts, a protruding navel, long arms befitting her long torso, and contrasting short legs with a few rendered toes. She looks out with a mesmerizing visage comprised of almond-shaped eyes, a defined browline, twin rectangular bas relief motifs adorning her forehead, a narrow protruding nose, an open mouth presenting a toothy grimace, a square jawline, cup-shaped ears, and ridged vertically-oriented rectangular adornments to either side of her visage. Size: 7.625" L x 6.75" W x 29.5" H (19.4 cm x 17.1 cm x 74.9 cm); 36.125" H (91.8 cm) on included custom stand.
Atop her head she carries a four-legged zoomorphic creature that also bares its teeth and is perched upon a rectangular plinth, just above the band topping her head. Finally, the openwork reed/branch and raffia framework below, a section of which is also wrapped with orange and black batik fabric, was intended to fit the wearer's head.
The Urhobo peoples of southern Nigeria have traditionally used elaborate costumes and masks at festival masquerades to honor water spirits who travel up the Niger River delta. They also have annual fishing festivals that feature swimming contests, dancing, fishing, and masquerades.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex Heinz Kolerski collection, Germany
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#162883
Condition Report: Age cracks to the plinth beneath the figure's feet, integral conical form beneath the plinth, the figure's head, rectangular plinth that the animal stands upon, animal's torso, and the figure's back. Four partial perforations behind figure's shoulders and arms, perhaps for attachments. Inactive insect losses to the animal upon the figure's head. Nice patina to the surfaces. Expected surface wear to figure and basket-like frame below commensurate with age. Some fraying to fabric wrapped around a section of the framework.
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**Originally Listed At $1300**
Africa, southern Nigeria, near Niger Delta, Urhobo peoples, ca early 20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden female, sitting upon a stool with her hands held together before her; her nude body presenting conical breasts, a protruding navel, long arms befitting her long torso, and contrasting short legs with a few rendered toes. She looks out with a mesmerizing visage comprised of almond-shaped eyes, a defined browline, twin rectangular bas relief motifs adorning her forehead, a narrow protruding nose, an open mouth presenting a toothy grimace, a square jawline, cup-shaped ears, and ridged vertically-oriented rectangular adornments to either side of her visage. Size: 7.625" L x 6.75" W x 29.5" H (19.4 cm x 17.1 cm x 74.9 cm); 36.125" H (91.8 cm) on included custom stand.
Atop her head she carries a four-legged zoomorphic creature that also bares its teeth and is perched upon a rectangular plinth, just above the band topping her head. Finally, the openwork reed/branch and raffia framework below, a section of which is also wrapped with orange and black batik fabric, was intended to fit the wearer's head.
The Urhobo peoples of southern Nigeria have traditionally used elaborate costumes and masks at festival masquerades to honor water spirits who travel up the Niger River delta. They also have annual fishing festivals that feature swimming contests, dancing, fishing, and masquerades.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex Heinz Kolerski collection, Germany
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#162883
Condition Report: Age cracks to the plinth beneath the figure's feet, integral conical form beneath the plinth, the figure's head, rectangular plinth that the animal stands upon, animal's torso, and the figure's back. Four partial perforations behind figure's shoulders and arms, perhaps for attachments. Inactive insect losses to the animal upon the figure's head. Nice patina to the surfaces. Expected surface wear to figure and basket-like frame below commensurate with age. Some fraying to fabric wrapped around a section of the framework.
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