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All auctions / Ethnographic / A iron sculpture - Vere - Nigeria (No reserve price)
Vere Iron Sculpture - Adamawa, Nigeria, incl stand. The towering figure is constructed entirely of wrought iron, combining extreme formal reduction with decorative virtuosity. Two long, slightly curved legs support a bell-shaped, broadened body. Spirally coiled iron bands form monumental ornamental or ear-like shapes on the sides; smaller spirals accentuate the chest. The exceptionally elongated neck is articulated by ring-shaped ridges and terminates in a small, highly abstracted head. Rust-brown oxidation, dark discolorations, and the visible traces of forging give the metal a vibrant, almost textile-like surface. The work is attributed to the Vere (Verre) people of the Adamawa region in northeastern Nigeria, whose settlement area extends south of Yola to the Nigerian-Cameroonian border region. Metallurgy holds particular significance in their material culture; Vere blacksmiths crafted not only everyday objects but also prestige items, jewelry, and ritual objects. Iron also held economic value in the wider Adamawa and Benue regions and circulated in the form of iron currencies. The unusual anthropomorphic design of this piece suggests a representative or ritual character. Literature (selection): Berns / Fardon / Kasfir (eds.): Central Nigeria Unmasked. Los Angeles 2011. Richard Fardon: Between God, the Dead and the Wild. Edinburgh 1990. Philip M. Peek (ed.): African Folklore: An Encyclopedia. New York 2004. 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. Copyright reserverd for all info and photos. Inv. No. MAZ27631 Informant: Amadou dogo
Estimate:$311.86
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Estimate:
$311.86
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