African Art from the McNemar Collection V 2021-07-10 Auction - 238 Price Results - Hilliard & Co. in VA
Dan We Bird MaskChokwe Pwo Mask with AccoutrementsBamana Chi Wara Head Crest
Done
Madison, VA, United States
Auction Details

African Art from the McNemar Collection V

Hilliard & Co.

Hilliard & Co.

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Virginia-born Thomas McNemar was in the British Museum researching his dissertation when he encountered his first piece of African art. From that moment he was mesmerized, returning daily to immerse himself in the museum's collection. In time he was noticed by the curator, who nurtured the passion that would change the course of McNemar's life. He moved to the Ivory Coast in the early 1960s and spent the next twenty years traveling, learning and collecting throughout West and Central Africa. He later moved to New York to open a gallery of African Art, eventually doing the same in San Francisco before returning to his home town of Lexington Virginia. McNemar sold African art to museums and public and private collections throughout Europe and the United States. This auction is the fifth of several presenting items from Thomas McNemar's large personal collection of African art.
SOLD
Igbo Okwa Kola Nut Divination Bowl: Complex round wooden vessel, the elaborate carved lid with two faces opens to a narrow cavity. Used to hold kola nuts and related condiments, which are both used ritually in divination, prayers and
0001: Igbo Okwa Kola Nut Divination BowlEst. $80-$300
SOLD
Bura Terracotta Memorial Figure, Niger: Hollow figural funerary urn as found at the Bura Asinda Sikka archeological site, Bura region, Niger. The head with elaborate coiffure with top knot and three plaits down the back, the face serene,
0002: Bura Terracotta Memorial Figure, NigerEst. $100-$600
SOLD
Ligbi Mask, Ivory Coast: Finely carved mask with flat, curving horns sweeping back from the forehead, the cranial ridge extending to the bridge of the nose, slit eyes beneath relief carved cross-hatched rectangular brows,
0003: Ligbi Mask, Ivory CoastEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Lobi Lidded Pot: Ovoid terracotta pot on low pedestal foot with applied notched lines, dashes, dots, and snaking lines. Lid with bird finial. Lobi people, Burkina Faso. Approx. 21" H. Provenance: Estate of Thomas
0004: Lobi Lidded PotEst. $200-$400
SOLD
Trough Zither, Tanzania: Carved wood stringed "inanga" musical instrument with standing figure finial, holes for five strings top and bottom across shallow hollowed out body, (strings not present.) Tanzania, possibly Doe
0005: Trough Zither, TanzaniaEst. $100-$300
SOLD
Bete Mask, Ivory Coast: Small mask with double horns on each side of brow and tusk-like projections on either side of snout, the encrusted surface embellished with lines of brass tacks. Includes custom gallery base. Mask,
0006: Bete Mask, Ivory CoastEst. $100-$200
SOLD
Kuba Carved Drinking Horn, D. R. Congo: With seated male figure carved in high relief, with geometric shapes and symbols and concentric circles carved in low relief against and incised ground. Hardwood or horn. Minor rim chip, crack.
0007: Kuba Carved Drinking Horn, D. R. CongoEst. $100-$200
SOLD
Ambete / Mbete Female Reliquary Figure: Standing female figure with crested head and flattened, mask like face with pointed teeth. The arms are bent at the elbow and held against the cylindrical torso above short sturdy legs, bent at the
0008: Ambete / Mbete Female Reliquary FigureEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Ligbi Do Society Mask: Yangaleya mask with dual faces, each with small slit eyes, raised facial scarification, each face having a long projection from brow to below chin in the form of a hornbill bird. Ligbi people, Ivory
0009: Ligbi Do Society MaskEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Dan We Bird Mask: Carved blackened wood mask with long, curved bird beak, human nose, round forehead with subtle cranial ridge, the narrow eyes embellished with metal. Repaired crack at corner of mouth to rim. Dan
0010: Dan We Bird MaskEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Fon Terracotta Shrine Figure: Hollow pottery figure, open at the bottom and at the navel, mouth, eyes and ears, with openwork crown or coiffure. Fon artist. Approx. 23" H. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.)
0010A: Fon Terracotta Shrine FigureEst. $100-$600
SOLD
Mbagani Mask, D. R. Congo: With large round forehead surmounted by notched headdress, enormous bulging eyes further emphasized with white kaolin and red pigment, a flat triangular nose and protruding square mouth above pointed
0011: Mbagani Mask, D. R. CongoEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Helmet Mask, Cameroon Grassfields: Anthropomorphic mask, the bulging eyes and toothy smile highlighted with white kaolin. Top of head with large rectangular opening. Likely Bamum or Kom. Includes custom gallery stand. Helmet mask
0012: Helmet Mask, Cameroon GrassfieldsEst. $100-$400
SOLD
West African Heddle Pulley: Of abstract avian form, with crested head, triangular base. Mounted to custom gallery stand. Pulley, approx. 5" H. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.) McNemar lived and collected
0012B: West African Heddle PulleyEst. $40-$200
SOLD
Two Baule Heddle Pulley, Ivory Coast: The taller an anthro-zoomorphic pulley, the head with curved horns, round forehead, long nose, the kaolin-whitened patterns on the sides of the face may indicate a toothy mouth in profile or
0013: Two Baule Heddle Pulley, Ivory CoastEst. $80-$300
SOLD
Three West African Heddle Pulleys: Of abstract form, likely representing animals and / or human beings.With incised and impressed geometric embellishment. All on custom gallery stands. Tallest pulley, approx. 5 1/2" H. Provenance:
0013A: Three West African Heddle PulleysEst. $80-$200
SOLD
Two Heddle Pulleys, Ivory Coast: Likely Baule or Guro. The taller with facial scarification, long ringed neck, the smaller pulley with a delicate, heart shaped face with zoomorphic ears laid back, the tips broken off long ago; signs
0014: Two Heddle Pulleys, Ivory CoastEst. $80-$300
SOLD
Three Figural African Heddle Pulleys: To include a Bamana pulley, Mali, a Senufo pulley, Ivory Coast, and the third pulley possibly Guro, Ivory Coast. Includes custom gallery stands. Tallest pulley approx. 5 1/2" H. Provenance: Estate
0014A: Three Figural African Heddle PulleysEst. $100-$300
SOLD
Pair Kuba Basket Rattles: Two dance rattles of woven cane, wood, seeds. Kuba artist, Democratic Republic of Congo. The larger approx. 12" H x 8 1/2" L x 3 5/8" W. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.) McNemar
0015: Pair Kuba Basket RattlesEst. $80-$160
Zande Female Figure: Small figure of blackened wood, with large, diamond shaped head, metal rings in the ears, standing with arms held out, the hands left uncarved, the knees slightly bent. Includes custom gallery stand.
0015A: Zande Female FigureEst. $80-$200Lot Passed
SOLD
Chokwe Pwo Mask with Accoutrements: Female ancestor mask with relief carved cross on high forehead, raised facial scarification, coffee bean eyes, with fiber coiffure, metal earrings. Includes custom gallery stand. Mask approx. 17" x
0016: Chokwe Pwo Mask with AccoutrementsEst. $100-$300
SOLD
Yaka Slit Drum: Carved wooden slit drum topped with anthropomorphic head with large, closed eyes, arched brows, and with long tailed animal perched atop coiffure. Such drums, called n'koku ngoombu, have various uses
0017: Yaka Slit DrumEst. $100-$300
SOLD
Fante Male and Female Figures, Ghana: Pair of carved figures of light brown wood, the hair, eyes, eyebrows and breasts accentuated with black paint, and with white residue in crevices, especially between neck rings, fingers and toes.
0018: Fante Male and Female Figures, GhanaEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Fang Helmet, Gabon: Unusual Fang helmet-like object in the form of a female head and torso, the Bieri-type head with ridged coiffure with ring-form projection, perhaps representing horns, the protruding mouth with sharp
0019: Fang Helmet, GabonEst. $100-$400