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THB20th C. African Fon Wood Short Staff - Hand & Chameleon
Lot 75
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
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$800 - $1,200
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 18, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-03-18 10:00:00
2021-03-18 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Oceanic
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/pre-columbian-tribal-oceanic-6520
Featuring Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, much more. All items have been legally acquired and are legal to sell. Convenient in-house shipping. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Featuring Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, much more. All items have been legally acquired and are legal to sell. Convenient in-house shipping. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (323)
- Lot Description
Africa, Republic of Benin, Fon peoples, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. An impressive and rare wood short staff displaying the hand-carved figure of a chameleon on one side and a left hand on the other. Coated in vibrant hues of green and pink, the lovely reptile exhibits a long body, four legs with claw-like feet, and a sinuous coiled tail. A series of incised dots decorates the cute creature's body, representing its scaly skin. The adorable animal's large head features a pair of conical eyes and a sizable open mouth. Alternatively, the hand at the other end of the staff is naturalistically carved with slender fingers and lengthy fingernails. The palm of the hand is rendered in careful detail, with incised palm lines and folds of the knuckles exhibited on each finger. The body of the staff showcases a lovely decorative motif of a central spherical embellishment incised with a zigzag design surrounded by a series of protruding rings. Size: 14.875" L x 1.75" W (37.8 cm x 4.4 cm); 4.25" H (10.8 cm) on included custom stand.
Known for its unique ability to change its color, the chameleon is a common symbol of transformation throughout West Africa. The creature's transformative nature is shown here via the green and red hues throughout its body. The spiral of the creature's coiled tail, also seen in this example, is another important symbolic motif representing the passage of time. As in most representations of chameleons in African cultures, here the reptile's tail curls curiously upwards, while in nature it curls down.
Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection
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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#162215Collection label on side. Nail of pinky finger has been reattached. Stable fissures throughout, as well as a few nicks and abrasions commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, very nice with excellent remaining pigments.Condition
- Shipping Info
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