Heddle pulley with bird head
Côte d'Ivoire, Diomande
sold
EUR 10,000
Provenance
Sotheby’s Paris, 5 December 2007, Lot 37Lucien van de Velde, Antwerp, Belgium
Size
H: 21 cm
H: 8.3 inch
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.