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THBTanzanian Nyamwezi Wood Nude Male Figure w/ Phallus
Lot 65
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:
$1,500 - $2,500
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| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
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| $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
East Africa, Tanzania, Nyamwezi people, ca. early 20th century CE. A striking example of Nyamwezi artistry, this early 20th century wood figure embodies the hallmarks of the tradition - elongated limbs, a vertically stretched torso, and a head with sharply defined planes that divide the face into two distinct facets. The oval eyes are inlaid with circular white beads, a distinctive feature that imparts a watchful, otherworldly gaze. Carved from a dense, dark hardwood, the surface has acquired a natural sheen through age and handling, enhancing its presence. The figure is nude, with a prominently projecting phallus, a feature often intended to convey vitality, generative force, and ancestral potency. Figures such as this were not mere decorative carvings but instruments of divination, particularly in water-finding rituals. Size: 6" W x 25.6" H (15.2 cm x 65 cm); 26" H (66 cm) on included custom stand.
The elongated proportions and deliberate distortion of form align with Nyamwezi sculptural conventions, which privilege symbolic representation over anatomical accuracy. In ritual contexts, the figure would serve as an intermediary between the diviner and unseen forces, its form embodying spiritual potency. This piece stands as a compelling example of East African sculptural heritage, merging bold abstraction with deep cultural function.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired via descent in 2010; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in October 1996; 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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#195984A few stable fissures to wood as well as some nicks, abrasions, and small areas of old, inactive insect damage. Otherwise, intact and very nice with rich patina to wood.Condition
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