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THB16th C. Nigerian Cross River Stone Monolith- Woman Form
Lot 146
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$7,000 - $10,000
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| $100,000 | $10,000 |
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Apr 8, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-04-08 10:00:00
2021-04-08 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-6770
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine Art, so much more! All legally acquired, legal to sell. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine Art, so much more! All legally acquired, legal to sell. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (327)
- Lot Description
West Africa, Nigeria, Cross River, Ekoi (Ejagham) / Bakor, ca. 16th to 18th century CE. A huge stone carving of a pregnant woman, known as a "Ikom Monolith" or a "Akwanshi" which, in the local language, translates to "dead people." The figure is depicted in a manner that is wonderfully abstract. The woman stands, her legs together to form a column, with her hands resting against her massive, conch shell shaped, pregnant stomach. Her belly button protrudes from the center into a point. Above, her breasts are clearly visible. Her face is dramatic, with huge, almond-shaped eyes that bulge outward, a wide nose, and a large, open mouth with the tongue protruding. Small divots at either side of the head form ears. The remains of a carved coiffure are just visible at the top of the head. Figures like this one were used as memorial stones for the deceased, inserted into the ground by their columnar legs, and are very rare! Size: 15" L x 6" W x 32" H (38.1 cm x 15.2 cm x 81.3 cm); 35" H (88.9 cm) on included custom stand.
These ancient statues are part of the funerary practices of people from this area; when someone died, for centuries, their family members would place a stone in a family stone circle, facing inward, in memory of the departed. They were partly buried, so that only the body above the belly button is above ground. These are the most elaborately carved large stone sculptures from West Africa, and populate villages for a stretch of nearly 600 miles around the Cross River of southeastern Nigeria. The volcanic stone they are carved from comes from the stone that lines the banks of the river. Not all depict as many details as this one does, but nearly all of the around three hundred examples that have been documented display two key features: the belly button, and the open mouth that indicates speaking or singing of past ceremonies.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private DeRoche collection, Piedmont, California, USA
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.
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#146154Extensive weathering on surface, with pitting and small losses, all commensurate with age. Extensive reddish soil deposits. Form is still clear.Condition
- Shipping Info
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