Pigafetta and Lopes, 16th century Portuguese chroniclers, describe having seen Teke warriors in the middle of battle, deflecting the enemy''s arrows using only fan-shaped axes that, when skillfully waved, constitute a kind of defensive shield. The specimen that we present, with the short handle on which the figure of the ancestor rests, is beautifully decorated with sheets of copper and brass held in place by small staples of the same material and decorated with studs and an intricate geometric design. The tattooed cheeks with parallel incisions and the fronto-nasal line indicate rank of leadership and indicate the importance of the individual represented. It reinforces the idea of authority that the bonnet that every notable receives on the day of his inauguration wears. When the bearer of this insignia makes a proclamation, he holds the weapon firmly while speaking. Once the demonstration is over, he rests the metal blade that comes out of the mouth on his shoulder, a gesture that alludes to the power of the word of the boss when he intervenes at the end of a dispute, considering the conflict resolved. Extremely rare in public and private collections, we can admire a similar specimen in the funds of the Tervuren museum, in this case female.
DECORATIVE ARTS
Starting price
1.700 €
NOT SOLD
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Durán Sala de Arte 2024
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