- 176
Ejagham (Ekoi) Headcrest, Cross River Region, Nigeria
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 USD
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Description
- hide, wood, fabric, fibers
- Height: 14 3/8 inches (36.5 cm)
Provenance
Hubert Goldet, Paris
Ricqlès, Paris, Arts Primitifs: Collection Hubert Goldet, June 30 - July 1, 2001, lot 118
Private American Collection, acquired at the above auction with the assistance of Lance Entwistle, London
Ricqlès, Paris, Arts Primitifs: Collection Hubert Goldet, June 30 - July 1, 2001, lot 118
Private American Collection, acquired at the above auction with the assistance of Lance Entwistle, London
Literature
Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa, New York and London, 1998, p. 94, color plate A
Condition
Good condition for an object of this type and age. Fiber elements are dry, fragile, and fraying with holes and losses. Marks, nicks, scratches, cracks and small losses to hide covering, which is dry and hardened. Old crack to hide on proper left side of face. Basketry with some small losses and unraveling. Fine glossy aged surfaces to hide and wood. Fixed permanently to modern metal base.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
In his discussion of the present lot Bacquart (1998: 94) notes: "The stylized features on this zoomorphic headdress probably refer to a bush animal - they were often associated with spirits. Its power is enhanced by added paraphernalia, including magical substances."
Boullier (in Mattet 2007: 174) notes: "A feature of the art of the Cross River region is the use of the technique - unique in Africa - of covering a sculpted wooden armature with animal skin, mainly for head crests and helmet masks. The tanned pelt, when stretched over the wood, imitates the grain, brilliance and volume of human flesh and renders these works surprisingly lifelike."