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THBEarly 20th C. African Bamun Pottery Figural Pipe Bowl
Lot 234b
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:
$2,500 - $3,500
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| $300 | $50 |
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| $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 24, 2022
Set Reminder
2022-03-24 10:00:00
2022-03-24 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-9057
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (416)
- Lot Description
West Africa, Cameroon, Bamun Peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. A fascinating pottery pipe bowl presenting in the form of a stylized male head extending from a tubular chamber that doubles as the figure's headdress. Highly abstract in its depiction, the emotive visage displays dramatically puffed cheeks, perhaps to mimic the expression of the smoker and give the heavy pipe bowl some stability, as well as bulging, ovoid eyes with delineated lids, arching, incised brows, a protruding forehead, a broad nose, and full lips held in a warm smile. Just below the mouth is a petite opening that leads to a slender tube where a brass or wood pipe stem with colorful beadwork would have been inserted. The cheeks are adorned by ceremonial scarification, likely created via stamped fabrics, while a pair of round ears flank the head, sitting far behind the brow. A beautifully incised design embellishes the towering headdress, comprised of 3 horizontal raised bands below an elaborately carved lattice motif. Size: 7.4" L x 4" W (18.8 cm x 10.2 cm); 7.9" H (20.1 cm) on included custom stand.
Traditionally, in the Cameroon grasslands, pipes were both status symbols and cult objects. During harvesting, clearing and planting times, pipe smoking was encouraged, since smoke was believed to promote fertility. Anthropomorphic pipe bowls were never created for the common man, but rather were reserved for more elite members of society. The largest and most intricately decorated pipes were made by male court ceramists for the king - known as the fon - and smoked only during important ceremonies to serve as visual attributes of royal might.
According to the Dallas Museum of Art, "The introduction of tobacco to sub-Saharan Africa in the 17th century inspired the creation of new prestige objects and leadership rituals. In the highly stratified Bamum Kingdom, which reached its peak in the 19th century, both men and women smoked tobacco in pipes befitting their social status."
Cf. Detroit Institute of Arts, 2019.211 and Dallas Museum of Art, 1999.60.
Provenance: ex-Coup de Foudre, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 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.
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.
#170112Losses to top of headdress and slender tube for pipe stem. Some stable hairline fissures to headdress. Some light abrasions and char marks commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, very nice with impressively preserved detail.Condition
- Shipping Info
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