An Asante Sword, "afena"

Sword, "afena Asante, Ghana ohne Sockel / without base Iron, wood. L 73 cm. Provenance: Andreas Vontobel (1931-2011), Waltalingen. The Akan state swords called afena are among the most important regalia at court. They appear as prestigious objects par excellence on various official occasions, for example on the occasion of the enthronement of a new regent or during purification ceremonies. Ceremonial swords of symbolic character demonstrate the power and wealth of the Asantehene (regent of the Asante). They are paraded by his sword-bearers and at the same time document the status and rank of its bearer. When a king takes part in a procession, for example, he is accompanied by numerous sword-bearers, who, as a sign of their loyalty, take the blade of the sword in their hand and point the pommel towards the king. The king himself holds a small sword in his right hand, which serves him as a dancing staff and symbolic weapon. Further reading: Ross, Doran and Eisner, Georg (2008). The Gold of the Akan. Museum Liaunig. Neuhaus: Museum Administration Ltd. ----------------------------------------------------- Andreas Vontobel (1931-2011) Andreas Vontobel was an enthusiastic and versatile person who pursued the most diverse interests in his life with great passion. He was an art collector with heart and soul, who collected African art as well as all other fields of art. His main interest, however, was in non-European cult and utilitarian objects and especially regalia. Besides his profession as a psychologist, he was also an excellent photographer and innovative artist, who also made several trips to Africa and Asia. The 1960s were decisive for a particularly pronounced fascination that was to last throughout his life: it was then that his enthusiasm for African art and culture, which he had discovered through his study of modern painting, began. From then on, he visited the most important art and ethnological museums in the world, studied countless books, and over the years systematically assembled a collection of artistically and ethnically significant works of Black African art. Among other places, the Carrefour Gallery of the art dealers Pierre and Claude Vérité in Paris served as a source for his desires. The majority of his African collection came from the Galerie Walu, as he was one of the gallery's regular and welcome visitors. Over the years, he developed an intimate friendship with René David, with whom he was able to discuss in depth his cross-cultural reflections on non-European art. Vontobel was not only interested in the aesthetics of the objects, but as a psychoanalyst also in the contents and rites associated with them. He was particularly fascinated by borderline experiences and the obviously parallel approaches to healing in different cultures. CHF 100 / 200 EUR 100 / 200