Fragment of a grave post "aloala" · Madagascar, Mahafaly · ID: 3035142
Description
light brown wood, matt patina, in form of a stylized bird, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage, cracks, traces of weathering, socle;
the most distinctive structures of Madagaskar are massive, case-like tombs of milled and crude stone. They are placed isolated within the landscape, often crowned by a row of up to thirty carved “aloala” posts. Such graves are reserved for kings and dignitaries, big tombs can only be afforded by rich people.
The object Fragment of a grave post “aloala” with the object ID 3035142 was last part of the auction 73rd tribal art auction at May 25, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 447 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,000.
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Comparing literature
Beaulieux, Belgium collects African Art, Brüssel 2000, p. 232