Lot 45
45
FIGURE EQUESTRE BAMANA EN FER A BAMANA IRON STAFF WITH AN EQUESTRIAN FIGURE
" f " : In addition to the regular Buyer’s premium… Read more
FIGURE EQUESTRE BAMANA EN FER A BAMANA IRON STAFF WITH AN EQUESTRIAN FIGURE

MALI

Details
FIGURE EQUESTRE BAMANA EN FER
A BAMANA IRON STAFF WITH AN EQUESTRIAN FIGURE
Mali
Hauteur: 110.5 cm. (43 ½ in.)
Provenance
Celeste et Armand Bartos, New York
Special notice
" f " : In addition to the regular Buyer’s premium, a commission of 7% (i.e. 7.385% inclusive of VAT for books, 8.372% inclusive of VAT for the other lots) of the hammer price will be charged to the buyer. It will be refunded to the Buyer upon proof of export of the lot outside the European Union within the legal time limit.(Please refer to section VAT refunds)
Further details
The perceived sorcery powers of the blacksmith among the Bamana is highly revered, as they are among the Dogon. His role, called numuw, has many interconnected layers as a smith, a healer and an artist. The Bamana staffs are distinguished by the more voluminous bodies and curvilinear embellishments. Creating the staffs challenged the smith's creative abilities and finesse. They served several functions as markers of prestige placed around the family compound, and carried during initiation and funerary rites; they could also be used to mark a sacred grove or site (Frank in Colleyn (ed.) pp.45-47). See Christie's (New York, 22 November 1996, lot 8) for a related equestrian staff formerly in the collection of the artist Alberto Magnelli.

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Lot Essay

Les pouvoirs de sorcellerie du forgeron sont vénérés parmi les Bamana ainsi que par les Dogon. Il endosse un rôle multiple, appelé numuw, de forgeron, guérisseur et artiste. Les fers Bamana se distinguent par leurs corps volumineux et leurs ornements curvilignes. La réalisation de fers défie la créativité et l'habilité du forgeron. Ils servent tant de symbole de prestige placé autour de la maison familiale, que pendant les rites initiatiques ou funéraires, au cours desquels ils sont portés. Ils peuvent également être utilisés pour signaler l'emplacement d'un bois ou d'un site sacré. (Frank in Colleyn (ed.) pp.45-47). Voir Christie's (New York, 22 novembre 1996, lot 8) pour une statuette en fer équestre ayant fait partie de la collection de l'artiste Alberto Magnelli.

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