A iron sculpture - Mumuye - Nigeria (No reserve price)

Mumuye Iron Money - Taraba Region, Nigeria, incl stand. This elongated, forged iron object combines a strictly vertical base with an ornamentally fanned upper section. A narrow, straight shaft extends into an arched projection, its contour defined by numerous thin iron rods. Their spirally curled ends form a rhythmic sequence of small discs. A widened, asymmetrically tapering element closes off the arch at the front. The uniformly rust-brown surface reveals traces of oxidation and emphasizes the handcrafted nature of the metal. Possessing a remarkable sculptural independence between functional form and abstract symbol, the object possesses a remarkable sculptural autonomy. The Mumuye people live in northeastern Nigeria, particularly in what is now Taraba State and the upper Benue region. In this region, forged iron money served not only as an economic tool but also as an expression of material wealth and social connections. Comparable Mumuye iron currencies are documented in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. The unusually branching form of this piece is reminiscent of so-called snake currencies. Literature (selection): Marla C. Berns / Richard Fardon / Sidney Littlefield Kasfir (eds.): Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River Valley. Los Angeles 2011. Frank Herreman / Constantijn Petridis: Mumuye: Sculpture from Nigeria. The Human Figure Reinvented. 2016. Karl-Ferdinand Schädler: African Art: From Early Times to the Present. Munich 1997. Some of the information and photos are generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history documents. All information and photos are protected by copyright. Inv. No. MAZ30106 Informant Amadou Dogo

Estimate:$168.06

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