Galerie Ezakwantu

African Art       Franschhoek South Africa       Tribal Art

 

 

Central and Southern African Tribal Art

 

 

Click a thumbnail to enter a page.                   Scroll down to view objects in the page.

Masks / Masques Neck Rests Headdresses  Spoons / Ladles  Status Objects Thrones / Stools   Tribal Weapons Wooden Vessels Figures Contemporary Hair Ornaments Adornment Miscellaneous

Beer -Wine Cups

Musical Instruments

Zulu Imbenge

Pipes - Snuff Bottles - Snuff Spoons

Dolls

Clay Pots

 

 Scroll Down                                          Scroll Down

First, some results...

Our Headrests

Additional Images

Click Thumbnails for Larger Images AFTER Page FULLY Loads .   Rediscovered in the UK                                      Katanga Cross                    Razel - 1895 - Volkerkunde Vol ll  pg 113       Adze marks cover the both underside surfaces.   *

Another....

Tsonga Neck Rest   The Norman C. Bloom Collection The use of neck rests in Africa predates the Pharaohs. Head supports were used to protect elaborate and or encrusted coiffures when sleeping.   Tsonga headrests or pillows, originate from a region which overruns modern day political borders, that south-eastern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa.     Click Thumbnails for Larger Images AFTER Page FULLY Loads .   This superb 19th century Tsonga head rest was the property of Norman C. Bloom, whose estate was sold by Stephan Welz & Co., in association with Sotheby’s - Johannesburg.     The faceted rounded rectangular base with curved corners, is classic to this Tsonga art form.     A rarely seen circular support centres the structure, surmounted by two cylindrical columns, bearing an arching pillow with pierced rectangular pendant lugs on either side.     The lugs are decorated with six copper / brass rings, animal hair and Venetian glass beads. Personal adornments such as these, are rarely found intact on early collected examples.

*

Elegant Swazi Head Rest

Sicamelo

Swazi headrests have two legs, one on  either end, and are similar in style to their neighbours the Zulu. The crossbar includes a lug protrusion under the centre, often used as a handle. Invariably, the legs are  fluted with vertical grooves.

According to Gordon Crawford of Swaziland, the Swazi headrest centred lug a siborno or human belly button, the legs  sidwaba or skirt, and the top pair of patterns above each foot a tinzebe, which can be interpreted either as ears, or a woman's labium. Each of these names are applied to humans, not to animals. G Crawford therefore cannot see how people associate the form a a Swazi headrest with cattle, as all parts are named after humans.

Swazi headrests are usually carved from Vangati or  blood Wood tree, so named for it's blood like sap. It is a very popular hardwood used for furniture, also known as Mukwa or Kiaat.

Enjoy our powerful, yet elegant example.

*

Elegant Swazi Head Rest

Sicamelo

.

This small type of Swazi neck rest is said to have been used for travelling. It is  proportioned much like those of the Tsonga, who are Swazi neighbours.

 

 These are rare. Too our knowledge, less than 10 small examples of this reduced size are known.

 

*

Angolan Mwela Headrest

Bell Form

.

The Mwela live mostly in Southern Angola, but are also represented in Namibia.

 

*

 

Mwela Neck Rest / Fat Container

Angola

 

.

 

This example doubled as a fat container. Few authentic examples are known. Once such neck rests were identified, fakers used old neck rests to make lids for authentic fat containers, often discarding the original lids. This example predates their mischief, is confirmed by the ring on the upper portion and as such is extremely rare.

 

*

 

Angolan Ngambwe Headrest

Example "A"

Example "A"

Example "A"

.

Example "A"

The Ngambwe are a off shoot of the Mwela.

This is an eloquent example with unusual delicate form and deep patina.

*

 

Angolan Ngambwe Neckrest

Example "B"

Example "B"

Example "B"

.

Example "B"

Another example with bell shape and old deep patina of use.

 

*

 

Angolan Ndimba Headrest

.

Ndimba are another sub group of the Mwela. This is an excellent example of bell form.

*

 

Luba Headrest / Congo 

1920's

.

An early collected example. Rodents marked this neck rest due to years and years of accumulate deep inner patina  and or oils. It resembles old Egyptian form.

*

 

Beer -Wine Cups

Musical Instruments

Zulu Imbenge

Pipes - Snuff Bottles - Snuff Spoons

Dolls

Clay Pots