Heddle pulley with bird head ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Diomande · ID: 3032815

Description

wood, rich blackish brown patina, well-balanced forms, the long tapering beak corresponding with the neck lobe, accurate incised linear ornaments, complete with cross-bar and bobbin, acrylic base;
heddle pulleys belong to the weavers and were passed on as appreciated heirloom within the family. Because of their private character, the weaver is allowed to define their form on his own. The weaver who uses traditional methods employs so-called heddle pulleys to guide his cotton thread. These pulleys are hung over the loom and guide and hold up the chain thread which in turn holds up the heddle shafts and permits them to move up and down.

The object Heddle pulley with bird head with the object ID 3032815 was last part of the auction 69th tribal art auction at June 2, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 304 achieved a sales price of EUR 10,000.

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Publications

Expo.cat.: "Oerkunsten van zwart Afrika/Arts Premiers d' Afrique Noire", by Philippe Guimiot and Lucien van de Velde, Brussels: Credit Communal de Belgique, 1977:57, #28c; Hvatum Werner, "La muse des tisserands; l' étrier de poulie d' Afrique de L'Ouest, in: Tribal Arts, Le Monde de l' ArtTribal, vol.IV, #15, 1997:82, fig.49

Exhibition

Brussels, Belgium, "Oerkunsten van zwart Afrika/Arts Premiers d' Afrique Noire", Credit Communal de Belgique, 5 March - 17 April 1977