A Baule Ceremonial Whisk, "nandwa blawa" Lot n° 51

Ceremonial frond, "nandwa blawa" Baule, Côte d'Ivoire Mit Sockel / with base Wood, covered with gold foil, real hair, textile. H 92 cm. Provenance: Swiss private collection, Schwyz. A ceremonial duster called "nandwa blawa" by the Baule and a royal sign of dignity from the family heritage of a ruling clan called "aja". Ceremonial fronds were publicly presented at ceremonies as an outward sign of rank and affiliation. They symbolized the unity of the family and its identity. The motifs depicted, here a trap, always refer to people, animals or objects. They stand for praiseworthy qualities and sayings such as "The elephant does not fall into the trap, he stands on it and destroys it", a linguistic allegory for the ruler's superhuman power. "We cannot live without beautiful things" - this confession by an Akan could also come from the mouth of a Western art lover. In general, the Akan people, to which the Baule also belong, value the use of proverbs as a means of expression. Fronds, for example, are associated with the proverb "Money is like a flywhisk; an individual cannot hold it", which emphasizes the advantage of a community. Further reading: Ross, Doran and Eisner, Georg (2008). The gold of the Akan. Museum Liaunig. Neuhaus: Museum Administration Ltd. CHF 2 000 / 4 000 Weight in grams: 1857 Condition: Gold foil impaired or missing in places (see photos). -------------------------------- The condition (possible wear, signs of use, cracks, possible other impairments and signs of age, etc.) of this lot can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. If you have any questions about this item, please do not hesitate to contact Hammer Auctions (info@hammerauktionen.ch). The information regarding the condition of the items provided for the convenience of interested parties is an opinion only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided they notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the lot.