Auction 390 | AFRICA, OCEANIA & AMERICA - ARTE AFRICANA, OCEANICA E DELLE AMERICHE Online
Lot 23
A heavy bronze helmet characterised by a remarkable abstract-geometric decoration cleverly composed of alternating voids in the lateral triangles complementing the dense and homogeneous texture of the frontal and occipital parts. This part has been enriched with stylised representations of cauri-shells arranged geometrically and two concentric circles that recall eyes in a synthetic abstract representation of a human face. The upper part is surmounted by an anthropomorphic figure, probably a dignitary/warrior holding a shield.
This work, which is not particularly old, but of good workmanship and with a dignified natural patina, is to be considered rare given the difficulty of finding texts or valid references to similar helmets published or displayed in public and private collections. An exception is the volume 'The power of Form; African Art from the Horrstmann Collection' written by Ezio Bassani, Michael Bockemuhl and Patrick McNaughton for Skira editions 2002 in which a very similar Koma helmet is published on pages 74 and 75.
Measures: 30.0 x 22.0 x 22.0 cm
Starting price: € 800,00
Estimate: € 1.200,00 - 1.600,00
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