| Welcome To The Premier Place For Serious Collectors of Fine Authentic African Tribal Art Over 10 Years Online Serving Thousands of Satisfied Customers
Offering the Finest Quality Sub-Saharan African Art DRC Gabon Fang Mask
Measurement:
Height: 35.0 Inches INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS WELCOME CONDITION The Fang constitute a vast mosaic of village communities, established in a large zone of Atlantic equatorial Africa comprising Cameroon, continental Equatorial Guinea and nearly the whole north of Gabon. Historically the Fang were itinerant, and it is relatively recently that they have settled into this broad area. The Ngil masks are tied to the association of Ngil, which played judiciary and political roles among the Fang, assuring peace and hunting witches. These masks had the task of punishing those guilty of vices and criminals. The characteristics of the face do not express a composed serenity, but the deformation of anatomic characteristics reveals its superhuman character. This character is also reasserted by the use of white; for the Fang it is the color of death and of spirits. The accentuated vertical development of the mask is underlined by the long line of the nose. The calm expression of the Ngil, masks stands in striking contrast to the extremely frightening, threatening character of the masked performers who only performed at night in the light of torches. These masks were a part of paraphernalia of a hierarchically-structured male society which used them at initiation ceremonies and to pursue and punish sorcerers and offenders. Painter Fred Uhlman words - Most of the artists I admired, Picasso, Modigliani, Deraini, to mention only a few, had collected African art and had been profoundly influenced by it. Shortly afterwards I bought the Baule Fetish and the Baule bobbin which are still two of the finest pieces in my collection. It is easy to see why I bought them and why from that moment I have never stopped collecting. The head of the bobbin or heddle - pulley which is after all only a functional object for the purpose of weaving seemed to me then and today as beautiful as a Greek goddess. The fetish moved me as deeply as the bobbin by its silent tragic dignity and its air of profound meditation. GUARANTEE AUTHENTICITY AND CONDITION OF ITEMS ARE GUARANTEE TO THEIR DESCRIPTION. IF THE ITEM IS FOUND TO BE NOT AS DESCRIBED OR PICTURED, FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE WINNING BID AMOUNT AND SHIPPING CHARGE WILL BE GIVEN. QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL WITH ANY QUESTIONS, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR MORE DETAIL PICTURES. SHIPPING SHIPPING VIA USPS PRIORITY MAIL UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COST PLEASE INQUIRE. PAYMENT PAYMENT ACCEPTED - PAYPAL |
