More African Art

Waist Pendant

Benin Edo

Ht. 6 3/4"

Nigeria, West Africa

Jay Last Collection, Beverly Hills

Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants

The central figure on this pendant represents the oba, or king, of Benin flanked by important court officials. The scene symbolizes support for the oba, who in turn sustains the nation. The pendant was worn by the oba on a belt around his waist at state events.

 

• 
• Beatrice Reise Collection, Brooklyn Museum, NY
• Culture: Edo
• Medium: Copper alloy
• Place Made: Benin, Edo State, Nigeria
• Dates: mid-16th-early 17th century
• Dimensions: 8 x 6 1/4 x 2 1/4 in (20.3 x 15.9 x 5.7 cm) (show scale)

Pre-Columbian Art Summer 2012

Snuff Scoop



 

Atacama, Chile

 

Ht. 5 1/4" Bone

 

Snuff inhaled through tubes from small trays or tablets was common in the southern Andes where hallucinogen use was widespread. Wooden snuff trays have a shallow rectangular cavity at one end and human or animal motifs or a combination of both at the other. This snuff tablet is presumed to have come from the San Pedro de Atacama area and its overall form is consistent with Atacama works, but stylistic features relate it to more northern areas. Embellished with open latticework topped by a crouching creature known as the "moon animal," it is associated with the art of Recuay in central highland Peru. From the top of the animal's head—it has big, round eyes and a gaping mouth—descends a flowing, manelike appendage with two large curls that meet the rounded-up tail. The animal holds a trophy head in its massive front paws. Although trophy head imagery is common on Atacama snuff trays, this tray may be an import into the region rather than a local variant.

In the Atacama region of northern Chile, the highest concentration of wooden snuff trays has been found in burials in association with other paraphernalia, such as inhaling tubes, spatulas, small mortars and pestles, and snuff powder containers. The snuff, prepared from leaves, resin, and seeds of various plants dried and finely ground, was used to cure various ailments, to alleviate pain and conditions associated with high altitudes, to provide alertness in war and hunting, and to induce trances during rituals and ceremonies. metmuseum.org
Snuff inhaled through tubes from small trays or tablets was common in the southern Andes where hallucinogen use was widespread. Wooden snuff trays have a shallow rectangular cavity at one end and human or animal motifs or a combination of both at the other. on Atacama snuff trays, this tray may be an import into the region rather than a local variant.

In the Atacama region of northern Chile, the highest concentration of wooden snuff trays has been found in burials in association with other paraphernalia, such as inhaling tubes, spatulas, small mortars and pestles, and snuff powder containers. The snuff, prepared from leaves, resin, and seeds of various plants dried and finely ground, was used to cure various ailments, to alleviate pain and conditions associated with high altitudes, to provide alertness in war and hunting, and to induce trances during rituals and ceremonies.

African Art Summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Kuba mask

This mask, which is called pwoom itok, is danced ceremonially at funerals, initiations and entertainment festivals.
Literature Comparables: 1. African Art in American Collections, 1989, Nooter and Robbins, plate 1075 2. Treasures from Africa-Museum Tervuren, 1995 p. 157

 

Ht. 9" C. 1900

 

Price on Request

 

 

 

Changes At The Top Summer 2012

"Kimerly Rorschach, director of Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art since 2004, has been named the new director of Seattle Art Museum, effective this fall. Today’s announcement comes a little over a year after Derrick Cartwright stepped down from the position to “take a break” and pursue his own projects; in that time, the museum’s board did an international search for his replacement while simultaneously naming a new modern and contemporary art curator. Lots of big changes at SAM.

Rorschach comes to Seattle from Chapel Hill, NC, where she served as the founding director of $23 million-dollar, Rafael Vinoly-designed Nasher Museum, which replaced the old Duke University Museum of Art in 2005. Under her leadership it’s become one of the more interesting on-campus art museums in the country, host to high-profile traveling exhibits such as El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III and The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl (currently on display at Henry Art Gallery) —with works by Talking Heads front man David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, and Christian Marclay—in addition to a modern art collection ranging from Andy Warhol to Ai Weiwei.

A Fulbright scholar with a Ph.D. from Yale in art history, Rorschach is also an adjunct professor in Duke’s department of art, art history, and visual studies, where she teaches a "Museum Theory and Practice" undergraduate course. "Her interests include 17th- and 18th-century art, particularly in England; museum history and theory; patronage and collecting; the art market; art law; and legal, economic, and political issues in museums and the history of art," according to her faculty bio. Before joining the Duke team, Rorschach served as director of the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago for 10 years. She’s currently the president of the Association of Art Museum Directors.

According to a SAM release, Rorschach will move to Seattle with her husband John F. Hart, a scholar in American Constitutional law and history who currently teaches at Duke University. Rorschach and Hart have two grown daughters." www.seattlemet.com

 

As noted above Dr. Rorschach is the current President of the American Association of Museum Directors. This is important in that her potential input could impact AAMD's position on museum acquisition policy. It is thought that she will continue to support what has become the status quo, which is a problem of many members of AAM.

My Word Summer 2012

This summer went by in about five minutes. A good bit of it was spent driving and in fact one 3500 mile trip took me from Dallas to Rapid City, South Dakota back across the country to Chicago then down to Cincinnati and finally back to Dallas. Besides my colleagues wondering why someone who has been in business for almost 40 years would still do this and my wife seriously considering an intervention and grab for my car keys, it still remains the only way in one trip you can see many collectors and curators on their home turf. The trip was enlightening having the opportunity to visit the Blacks Hills, the Sioux Rosebud Reservation, multiple museums and curators, and many objects at the Roadshows in Rapid City and Cincinnati.

The low point of the trip was my visit to Indiana and the museum exhibition in Bloomington. What happened here and at other institutions that I have commented on in this Newsletter should give us all incentive to make sure we get our last wishes codified and as legally sound as possible. There is no such thing as an understanding that trumps a signed contract with independent lawyers on both sides.

The economy seems to still have no impact on the high end of the market. There also continues to be collectors entering the marketplace to take advantage of price corrections that have resulted from more objects coming on the market. The Santa Fe Indian market this month was mixed as it has been the past years. What was different again was well priced less expensive objects being sold successfully by dealers who priced to sell. Looking at the third and fourth level regional auctions this market seems alive and well.

The appraisal business has been extremely active for the past year. We have expanded our services to meet new market demands  and are now working with owners on the entire art and antiques collection within estates as consultants in the appraisal and disposition of the objects. So if you are facing this issue, let us earn your business. It is a tough economic climate. We would like very much to assist you  and your family in navigating through the tough challenges as you downsize or make financial plans for the future. After almost 40 years in business, 17 years with Antiques Roadshow, and more than 20 years as a member of the International Society of Appraisers, we have a great network. JB