19 - Bangle with a pair of seated figures

Bangle with a pair of seated figures Lobi. Burkina Faso Without base Yellow cast metal, iron. H 4 cm. Ø 10.5 cm. Provenance: - Galerie Walu, Zurich. - Hammer Auctions, Basel, Dec. 2, 2017, Lot 15. - Claudine and Christoph Eichele (1952–2020 & 1949–2026), Brotte-lès-Luxeuil. - Eichele Community of Heirs. Among the Lobi, there is an astonishing variety of yellow cast objects, which also differ in their uses. Most of the objects are jewelry, such as bracelets, anklets, rings, and pendants. This seated pair combines a human-like appearance with superhuman qualities and was likely intended to protect the owner from inaccessible realms such as evil thoughts and witchcraft. -------------------------------- Since time immemorial, jewelry in a wide variety of forms and materials has accompanied and fascinated people of all cultures. From a cultural perspective, however, bracelets, anklets, amulets, rings, and necklaces are much more than mere pieces of jewelry. In much of Africa, these masterfully crafted treasures are valued for their beauty, but these precious ornaments are, above all, an integral part of religious beliefs. They therefore serve as symbols of the wearer’s affiliation, status, and faith. Furthermore, healers prescribe the wearing of protective jewelry to aid in recovery or to ward off misfortune. These treasures were thus also worn as magical, protective, and empowering objects. In addition to local materials—such as gold, silver, copper, iron, stone, ivory, shell, and resin—popular imported goods (glass, coral, cowrie shells, etc.) were also frequently used to craft these valuable, one-of-a-kind pieces. Indian stone beads, for example, had reached Africa very early on via the trade routes of the Near East. Later, during Murano’s heyday between the 16th and 19th centuries, Italian-made glass beads in particular sold like hotcakes. Due to the value of the raw materials used, these pieces of jewelry also served as investments and were used as a medium of exchange and a means of payment. These pre-coin forms of payment (so-called “primitive money”), which came in standardized shapes, were traded over long distances. The use of imported manillas made of copper alloys as barter items in Africa dates back at least to the 16th century, when the Portuguese established trading posts in West Africa. Over time, these imported goods were repeatedly remelted and cast or forged into new forms, and other materials, such as iron, were increasingly traded in the same manner. At the beginning of the 20th century, most colonial powers banned these forms of money as a means of payment in order to establish their own currencies. Further reading: Glar, Wilfried (2002). African Maturity: An Attempt at an Overview (5 volumes). Self-published. -------------------------------- Claudine Eichele (1952–2020) and Christophe Eichele (1949–2026) As the daughter of René and Denise David, the founders of Galerie Walu in Basel, Claudine Eichele was familiar with non-European art from an early age. From 1970 to 1990, she worked full-time at the gallery and undertook several trips to Africa in the 1980s. She subsequently remained associated with the gallery on and off and on a part-time basis. Christophe Eichele worked as an independent entrepreneur and marketing specialist. In addition, he was actively involved for many years in fundraising and marketing for the Swiss aid organization Brücke · Le pont. The couple spent their retirement in Brotte, France, where the collection they had built together also found its home. CHF 100 / 200 Weight in grams: 93 Condition: Hammer Auctions places great importance on providing a careful and as precise as possible description of all lots offered in the catalog. Each lot is documented with multiple photographs intended to provide as comprehensive an impression as possible of its condition. This includes, in particular, visible signs of wear, irregularities, and age-related changes. We recommend that all interested parties and bidders carefully examine the photographs before placing a bid, as they form an essential part of the lot description. In addition, we recommend viewing the items in person before the auction, if possible. All condition descriptions are provided to the best of our knowledge and belief and are based on our professional assessment. They are provided for informational purposes only and do not claim to be exhaustive. In particular, there may be age- or wear-related characteristics that are neither explicitly mentioned nor visible in the photographs. Hammer Auctions assumes no liability for unintentional errors or omissions in the condition descriptions to the extent permitted by law. However, we are always b