A Makonde Body Mask, "njorowe" Lot n° 79

Body mask, "njorowe" Makonde, Tanzania Mit Sockel / with base Wood. H 66 cm. Provenance: - Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris, 30.06.1994, lot 74. - Swiss private collection, Basel. Described as a "Masque de Ventre Makonde" by Bernard Dulon, the expert at the Cornette de Saint Cyr auction in 1994 (see photos). According to popular belief, this body mask represents the belly of a beautiful pregnant woman and is worn by men at certain dances for fertility. The dancer, who tries to imitate the pregnant woman, is equipped with a fabric dress and a face mask, which is unfortunately missing here. The tatau goes back to the legend of the first man who carved a wooden figure in his solitude, which then came to life and became his wife. Further reading: M. Carlos Carvalho, Art Makonde tradition et modernité, Ministère de la Coopération et Développement, France, 1989. CHF 1 500 / 3 000 Weight in grams: 1'400 Condition: The condition (possible wear, signs of use, tears, possible other impairments and the 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.