Small shutter of a granary door · Mali, Tellem · ID: 3032309
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
light wood, carved with a stylized crocodile in flat relief, encrusted with clay, surface with extreme traces of old age and weathering;
the crocodile motif originates from an ancient myth, which tells that the blacksmith once came down to the earth in a rowing boat floating on a rainbow. The crocodile reminds of the devotement of a “nommo” in order to save the world. The most beautiful ritual implements decorated with symbols deriving from this myth belong to the “hogon”. The door of his granary is carved with rows of male and female ancestors. The door window possibly with a crocodile.
The object Small shutter of a granary door with the object ID 3032309 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 161 achieved a sales price of EUR 650.
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Comparing literature
Leuzinger, Elsy, Die Kunst von Schwarz-Afrika, Recklinghausen 1972, ill. A. 32, p. 28