Zemanek-Münster

Pendant for men "thungbubiel"

Burkina Faso, Lobi
sold EUR 2,400
Provenance
Helmut von Hacht, Hamburg, Germany
Size
H: 21 cm
B: 6,5 cm
H: 8.3 inch
B: 2.6 inch

Description

ivory, partly encrusted patina, the lower edge broken off on purpose to desecrate the object after the owner’s death, min. dam., missing part, cracks through age, slight traces of abrasion;
“thungbubiel” literally means “elephant pipe”. It is an extremely valuable ornament and only men of highest rank were allowed to wear them.

Lobi, Burkina Faso about 1890


Comparing literature

Ginzberg, Marc, Afrikanische Formen, Mailand 2001, p. 257

Subscribe to our newsletter

Join over 10,000 tribal art collectors. Don't miss out on upcoming news and auctions.

Subscribe today