Lot 22775: Fine African Tribal Art, Massive Poro Senofu Hornbill (Sierra Leone)

Description

Today you have a unique opportunity to own a part of an impressive collection of original African objects which is now being liquidated due to several unforeseen business circumstances. Please check out all of our auctions for other interesting pieces from this and other sources!
This mask is being sold as part of a private corporate collection of African tribal art and artifacts. Its provenance is as follows: this piece was originally acquired by an avid collector of ethnographic antiquities in the 1960s, and was held as part of a large private collection in the Southeast for decades, unseen by the public eye.  In 2005, that collection appraised as a whole for more than two million dollars, and has since been divided as part of an estate distribution. Much of this collection was sold privately or gifted to different institutional organizations.  This piece remained in the collector's estate until circa 2011, when it was acquired by the present owner.  Since that time, it has been held as part of the Tibiwinston, Ltd. corporate art collection.   This piece has been exhibited twice in the past year in Georgia and South Carolina, and can be most recently found in the catalog for the "Out of Africa" exhibit at the South Carolina Arts and Heritage Center (North Augusta, SC; June 6-August 19, 2016)  For more information about it's most recent exhibition, see http://www.aikenstandard.com/lifestyle/feature-columns/north-augusta-center-hosts-the-out-of-africa-exhibit/article_44d6adca-70db-5bb0-9bfb-49c8f98cd51e.html)
ALL OFFERS CONSIDERED -- Please use the "Best Offer" feature to end this auction early! Please inspect our high resolution photographs prior to bidding; as this is a business liquidation, no refunds or exchanges are permitted.  This item is large, and freight or other appropriate shipping or local pickup will need to be arranged.  We can help to work with your shipper of choice, shipped FOB Augusta, GA.
Item Number: 22776
Originates from: Baga (Bagga) Tribe, Guinea or Guinea-Bissau
Materials/Comments: This hand carved, wooden Senufu Senufo hornbill (bird) ceremonial statue is impressive. This piece was brought into the US in the 1960s by an avid collector of African artifacts. This is NOT recently made, less valuable "tourist art" that a lot of other ebay sellers are advertising.  Some chipping of the wood at base commisurate with handling and use over fifty+ years, but stands independently on a flat surface.
For more information regarding the  provenance of this object, please message us.  The only similar size example we have been able to find is in the Metropolitan museum in New York City.
Dimensions: Impressively Large.  Over 8' tall.  Extremely heavy.  Message us for more details or additional photos, or to schedule a viewing.
Origin Information:
In the
initiation ceremonies
of the
Poro
of
Sierra Leone
, a
Senufo bird
is a hat worn by men or carried in a procession. Between uses it is kept the Poro’s secret tree grove. The base is hollowed out underneath so that it may fit like a cap on the head of the wearer. However, many of the birds stand on cylindrical bases that seem to be designed to rest upon the ground.
The image of a large abstract bird with an equally large beak curved into its own belly. The wings on either side are rectangular with small squares punctured in them Two smaller versions of the bird stand on each shoulder and the wings a decorated with figures on the backside. The legs are slightly bent, standing on a round pedestal and a smaller animal protrudes as the birds tail. This sculpture is made of dark wood and is sometimes decorated with pigment or mud,
According to Senufo belief, the
hornbill
, along with the tortoise, the crocodile, the chameleon, and the serpent - was one of the first living creatures. The long phallic beak touching its swollen belly suggesting pregnancy, represents the dual forces of the male and female components, symbolizing the need for both to ensure the continuity of the whole community. The image of this bird is taken from the native
yellow-casqued hornbill
, which the Senufo believe is the master of all arrogant birds and associated with intellectual power, significant of the knowledge the elders hope to impart on the young initiates.