African Art from the McNemar Collection VI 2022-01-01 Auction - 110 Price Results - Hilliard & Co. in VA
Fang Mask, GabonPair Ewe / Fon Terracotta Shrine FiguresYangaleya Mask, Ligbi Do Society
Done
Madison, VA, United States
Auction Details

African Art from the McNemar Collection VI

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 sixth of several presenting items from Thomas McNemar's large personal collection of African art.
SOLD
Bobo Bronze Figure of Cow: Figure of a horned cow with a pair of birds perched on its head. Approx. 7 1/2" L x 3 3/4" W x 3 3/4" H. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.) McNemar lived and collected throughout
0001: Bobo Bronze Figure of CowEst. $80-$300
SOLD
Yangaleya Mask, Ligbi Do Society: Small oval mask with minimalist eyes and mouth, double ears, and distinguished by a large curved beak from cranium to below chin. The mask represents the hornbill bird, important to the Do Society.
0002: Yangaleya Mask, Ligbi Do SocietyEst. $100-$300
SOLD
Bronze Zoomorphic Neck Rest: African headrest in the form of a four legged creature with conical ears and a human face. Possibly Chamba people. Approx. 9" L x 4" W x 4" H. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.)
0003: Bronze Zoomorphic Neck RestEst. $60-$200
SOLD
Chokwe Mask: Chokwe Mwana Pwo mask, the narrow face with relief cruciform mark centered on protruding brow, the face overshadowed by the elaborate coiffure. Sharply defined cheekbones, delicately pouting lips,
0004: Chokwe MaskEst. $100-$200
SOLD
Kota Mbutu Ngulu Reliquary Type Figure: Kota guardian figure, copper over wood, Gabon. Figure aprox. 20" x 10". On custom gallery stand. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.) McNemar lived and collected throughout Central and
0005: Kota Mbutu Ngulu Reliquary Type FigureEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Three African Heddle Pulleys: On custom gallery stands. Largest approx. 6 1/2" H. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.) McNemar lived and collected throughout Central and West Africa in the 1960s and 70s. He
0006: Three African Heddle PulleysEst. $80-$200
SOLD
Kota Reliquary Basket & Figure: Ensemble with metal covered wood guardian figure embedded in basket filled with unknown material but including fabric and braided rope. Basket embellished with beads and feathers. Gabon.Provenance:
0007: Kota Reliquary Basket & FigureEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Large Dogon Kneeling Female Figure: Kneeling female figure with openwork coiffure or crown supporting a bowl. The figure with narrow face, projecting jaw, arrow shaped nose. The shoulders with relief carved zigzag scarification or
0008: Large Dogon Kneeling Female FigureEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Mambila Suaga Mask: Crest mask combining features of multiple animals, with long, toothy snout, protruding eyes, large triangular ears, and long horns. Associated with harvest and new moon festivals. Wood with black,
0009: Mambila Suaga MaskEst. $100-$400
SOLD
Wum Helmet Mask, Cameroon: Gorilla-like face with dramatic, overhanging brow over deep set, protruding eyes, with naturalistic nose and enormous mouth full of long teeth. Two animals with long, flaring nostrils are perched on
0010: Wum Helmet Mask, CameroonEst. $100-$300
SOLD
Three African Heddle Pulleys: The largest with anthropomorphic finial with crested coiffure, relief carved cheek brow and neck scarification. The second pulley with janiform finial having two horned and two human heads, one with
0011: Three African Heddle PulleysEst. $80-$200
SOLD
Dogon Bronze Couple Figures: Pare male and female bronze hoop figures, Mali. The female slightly larger, 7" H. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.) McNemar lived and collected throughout Central and West Africa in
0012: Dogon Bronze Couple FiguresEst. $60-$200
SOLD
Fang Style Mask with Accoutrements: Mask with dramatically scooped facial plane under bulging brow, and with slit eyes, long narrow nose, simplified mouth. Woven grass hood with attached beads and seashells, the chin with remnants of
0013: Fang Style Mask with AccoutrementsEst. $80-$160
SOLD
Fang Mask, Gabon: With triple lobe coiffure, high round ears, convex facial plane under arched brows with long, slightly flaring nose, square eye holes and mouth. On custom gallery stand. Approx. 19" L x 8 " W x 5" D.
0014: Fang Mask, GabonEst. $80-$200
SOLD
Small Stone Shrine Figure: Carved stone figure, minimally featured with hollows for eyes and ears, protrusions for nose and breasts, arms modeled straight along the sides of the body which flares out to a flattened base. Grey
0015: Small Stone Shrine FigureEst. $80-$200
SOLD
Pair Ewe / Fon Terracotta Shrine Figures: Large male and female pottery figural ancestor / protective vessels, their abdomens with multiple small vessels and each with a serpent. Male with prominent phallus. Ghana or Togo. Each approx. 29"
0016: Pair Ewe / Fon Terracotta Shrine FiguresEst. $100-$600
SOLD
Three African Heddle Pulleys: Figural female pulley with crested coiffure, pendulous breasts, second pulley with horned coiffure and bead ornaments, the third pulley of abstract form, possibly representing a bush cow. All on
0017: Three African Heddle PulleysEst. $80-$200
SOLD
Baganda Terracotta Vessel: With long neck rising from spherical body, decorated with bands of continuous figure 8s between impressed rope-textured lines. Deep blackish gray color. Woven straw circlet base included. Approx. 18
0018: Baganda Terracotta VesselEst. $100-$200
SOLD
Three Ethiopian Headrests: To include an openwork headrest with incised geometric decoration, a pedestal headrest with conical base, and a simple flat sided headrest. Openwork headrest approx. 7 1/2" x 8" x 2 3/4".Provenance:
0019: Three Ethiopian HeadrestsEst. $60-$120
SOLD
Zoomorphic Mancala African Game Board: Carved wood Mancala game board resting on four feet, with buffalo head. Incised and relief carved geometric decoration. Approx. 33" L x 7" W x 5 1/2" H. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar,
0020: Zoomorphic Mancala African Game BoardEst. $100-$200
SOLD
Lobi Bateba Figure: Female figure, somewhat crudely carved, standing with arms at sides and hands cupping abdomen. On custom gallery stand. Figure, approx. 11" H. With stand approx. 13 1/2" H. Provenance: Estate of
0021: Lobi Bateba FigureEst. $80-$160
SOLD
Bamileke Stool, Cameroon: Carved wood openwork stool. Age cracks but stable and strong. Approx. 10" H, 11" diameter. Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.) McNemar lived and collected throughout Central and West
0022: Bamileke Stool, CameroonEst. $80-$200
SOLD
Bamana / Bambara Chi Wara Headdress, Mali: Northern style antelope headdress, with graceful and highly abstract figure of an antelope with curved openwork body, long spiral-carved horns. Embellished with fabric and punched metal. Losses,
0023: Bamana / Bambara Chi Wara Headdress, MaliEst. $100-$200
SOLD
East African Neck Rest: Aivan form headrest on openwork foot. Inset metal eyeholes. Approx. 5 1/2". H x 14 1/2" L Provenance: Estate of Thomas McNemar, (1931-2020.) McNemar lived and collected throughout Central and West
0024: East African Neck RestEst. $80-$200