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THBEarly 20th C. Zulu Wood & Maasai Horn Snuff Containers
Lot 72d
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$600 - $900
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Southern Africa, South Africa, Zulu people; East Africa, Kenya, Maasai people, ca. early 20th century CE. A fine pair of traditional African snuff containers, each masterfully hand-crafted and representative of the distinct cultural aesthetics of their makers. The larger example, from the Zulu people of South Africa, is carved from a single piece of rich brown hardwood into an elongated form with two hollow rectangular openings at the midsection, flanked by bulbous finials that once served as receptacles for powdered tobacco (snuff). This elegant openwork design not only lightens the form but also highlights the craftsmanship of the carver. The smaller vessel, made by the Maasai people of Kenya, is formed from a polished animal horn with a rounded, slightly flattened body, tapering to a narrow neck fitted with a stopper of bone or horn. The base features a small triangular extension, likely serving as a suspension loop for transport. Size of larger (Zulu openwork): 1.4" W x 5.1" H (3.6 cm x 13 cm); 6.3" H (16 cm) on included custom stand.
Both containers speak to the cultural importance of snuff-taking in African societies during the colonial era and earlier. Among the Zulu, elaborately carved wooden snuff containers were personal objects of pride and markers of status. In Maasai culture, horn snuff flasks were similarly treasured, often worn suspended from the body for ease of access. Together, they embody the intersection of utility, artistry, and identity, each vessel carrying not only powdered tobacco but also the traditions of its people.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in 2010 via descent; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, Larger: purchased in January 1998; ex-Gallery DeRoche, California, USA; More petite: purchased in March 2000; ex-Taylor "Tad" Dale, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#196214No stopper to larger. Both have some light surface wear as shown but are otherwise intact and in excellent condition.Condition
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