Partner of African-Arts.info
Fischer Auktionen presents outstanding objects of tribal art, including some with Han Coray provenance
Dear $email,
Special auction tribal art June 20th, 2011
Preview June 4th to 12th, 2011
official website : www.fischerauktionen.ch
email: mailto:info@fischerauktionen.ch
online catalog: www.fischerauktionen.ch/auktion/katalog.aspx?oid=108044&catid=108196
pdf catalog: www.fischerauktionen.ch/UserData/Katalog_108045_00.pdf
auction highlights: www.fischerauktionen.ch/auktion/highlights.aspx?oid=108044&catid=108196&l=en
In its forthcoming sale, on 20th June 2011, the Galerie Fischer presents a
special auction of tribal art. Numerous objects come from the Han
Coray Collection, which is, alongside the Muller and Emil Storrer
collections, one of the early and major collections for tribal art not only in
Switzerland, but in the world.
Swiss educational reformist, gallery owner, collector and patron Han Coray (Thal
1880-1974 Agnuzzo) was the first person to dedicate an exhibition to African art
and to appreciate it as art. In his work as a gallery owner, he also paved the
way for the avant-garde, exhibiting not only African carvings but also Dada
artists as early as in 1917. His environment included art pioneers such as Hans
Arp, Wilhelm Lehmbruck or Tristan Tzara.
With his activities as a collector, he wanted to set African art ‘a monument’, as he himself put it. Coray bought most of his approx. 2000 pieces, with a purely artistic mind, in the early Twenties from important Paris art dealer Paul Guillaume, who strongly influenced his taste. Due to financial problems, the biggest part of the Coray collection finally got into the possession of the ethnological museum of Zurich University.
The family still held on to numerous objects, which they sold to museums or
private collectors later on.
To see all objects of tribal art coming to auction please click here http://www.fischerauktionen.ch/auktion/katalog.aspx?oid=108044&catid=108196
Among the Fisher auktionen highlights are :
Artist of the Edo, Ram’s head, Benin/Nigeria
Collector’s number “HC 40”.
Bronze, height = 25,5 cm, width = 23 cm
Estimate: CHF 120,000/180,000 resp. EUR 92,300/138,450
Exhibition:
Kunsthaus Zug, Meisterwerke afrikanischer Plastik aus Schweizer private
property, Zug, June 9th to September 3rd 1995.
Literature:
Paolo Morigi, Meisterwerke altafrikanischer Kultur aus der Sammlung Casa Coray,
Agnuzzo 1968, no. 61
with picture
Kunsthaus Zug/Wiese Verlag (ed.), Meisterwerke
afrikanischer Plastik aus Schweizer Privatbesitz (mit
einem Essay von Ezio Bassani), Zug 1995, p. 26, no. 12
with picture
Provenance:
Presumably Paul Guillaime, Paris (1920s)
Han Coray, Agnuzzo
Dr. Hans Coray, Zurich (1986)
Collection Hans W. Kopp, Zumikon
To this day the cattle breeding is of great importance in many West African
peoples, which is not only due to the animals’ material value, but also the
spiritual one. Old bronze plates from the 17th century, for example from the
extinct kingdom of Benin, show the ruler ‘oba’ at the ritual slaughter and
sacrifice of a bull. This ram’s head, which was originally part of the Africa
collection of the prominent Swiss collector Han Coray, possibly also dates from
this historic cultural context. Although the picture shows attributes of a bull,
it is probably a bold representation of a ram’s head. This also corresponds to
the description of Ezio Bassani, (Meisterwerke
Afrikanischer Plastik A...Aus der Schweiz, p. 13). In ancient Benin, the ram
was considered a symbol of masculinity, ram’s heads originally also decorating
the altars of the ancestors. In addition, bronze pendants were made, which die
‘oba’ attached to the right side of his garment. In its abstract shape, our
specimen, cast in the 18th century or earlier in a lost mould, is without
parallel. Despite its relatively small size the head radiates certain
monumentality. The arch of the horns creates a dialogue with the massive form of
the head, as it were. The only frugal decor is a sort of braid on the animal’s
forehead. The delicate ears and the tiny eyes form opposite poles, which loosen
but also enhance the compact form of the head. Typical for the region of West
Africa is the subtly moderated realism in depiction, which to date is found
frequently in this part of Africa’s woodcraft. By turning the ram’s head
around one can see the hollow shape of the small work of art: At least for the
beholder accustomed to European avant-garde art the piece now takes on the
character of an abstract, bowl-like object. The colour of the patina gives the
metal object an almost organic quality.
Senufo
Horse Fugure, Ivory Coast
Wood, height = 38 cm
Estimate: CHF 10,000/14,000 resp. EUR 7,700/10,750
Provenance:
Collection Hans W. Kopp, Zumikon
In the life of the Senufo, resident in the Ivory Coast, this important
equestrian figure belonged a fortuneteller and was called “siyonfolo” or “master
of the horse”. The horse stands for wealth and is associated with a chief or a
rich man. The expressive figure symbolizes a bush ghost who, in connection with
the fortune-teller, helped with important decisions. The contrasting colours of
the equestrian and the body of the horse and his legs, which resulted from
plants during usage, can be recognized clearly. The headpiece resembles an
abstract hornbill, this “calao” is ever-present in many figures and masks of
the Senufo and suggests the mythological origin of the tribe. The abstract
composition of the piece, which comes from the region of Korhogo in the
populated north of the country, is outstanding. Whereby simple bush ghost
figures, “tugubele”, are often to be seen in trade, the high-quality
equestrian figures are considered very rare. The slightly tilted head lends the
object additional liveliness.
GALERIE FISCHER AUKTIONEN AG
Haldenstrasse 19 | 6006 Luzern | Schweiz
Tel. +41 (0)41 418 10 10 | Fax +41 (0)41 418 10 80
email: info@fischerauktionen.ch
Internet: http://www.fischerauktionen.ch
books about Han Coray:
African
Art from the Han Coray Colle... Collection,
1916-1928: 1916-1928 : Volkerkundemuseum, University of Zurich (Prestel Art) [Paperback]
Afrikanische Kunst Aus Der Sammlung ... Han Coray, 1916-1928 [Hardcover]
read also Fischer tribal art auction
|
african art | african antiques | african art shop | african art club |
Recent postings:
Nok Statue Crushed. A $300G oopsie!
L Africa Di Attilio Pecile & Peter Savorgnan de Brazza
masques Gelede Les mille et un symboles des masques
Tribal Art Society , an online website that replicates the fine tribal art gallery experience.
African art fakes and expertise
Hand Held-Personal Arts from Africa
Books I like :
Invention
and TraditionHerbert M. Cole. released on May 25, 2012.
Surfaces: Color, Substances, and Ritual App...
Africa Tom Phillips, Roya..
A
Personal Journey: Central African Art from the
Lawrence Gussman Collection
more african art books
visit my amazon store
In this section :
|
african art | african antiques | african art shop | african art club | African Art books |
Mail
David Norden
Sint-katelijnevest 27
ANTWERPEN-Belgium
Tel +32 3 227 35 40
David Norden African Arts profile on facebook | African Arts on twitter
a few african art advertisers:
tribal art
gallery | Amyas Naegele | Bedaux
Brussels | Zemanek
| african art dealers
| origine
expert, etc....
discussion
groups :
Sites Roll :
African Art
Visit our online gallery
African Art Books David Norden's selection
African Art Club, be an insider, pro African Art collectors and dealers access !
Buy African Antiques Genuine fine African Antiques from known collections.
excellent diamonds | diamonds news |
Do you love ? A new start in life
African
Antiques e-Newsletter
I never thought I would receive so much information's about the African art
world !
