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THBAfrican Tanzanian Makonde Njorowe Pregnant Ceremonial Carved Wood Body Mask
About Seller
522 South Pineapple Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34236
United States
Sarasota Estate Auction specializes in a wide variety of furniture, antiques, fine art, lighting, sculptures, and collectibles. Andrew Ford, owner and operator of the company, has a passion for finding the best pieces of art and antiques and sharing those finds with the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Two ways to bid:
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Bid Increments
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| $0 | $10 |
| $100 | $25 |
| $250 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,500 | $250 |
| $7,500 | $500 |
| $20,000 | $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $2,500 |
| $100,000 | $5,000 |
| $250,000 | $10,000 |
About Auction
LiveApr 19, 2026
Over 1,600 lots will be offered over the 2 day auction weekend. Featuring an abundance of fine art, sterling silver, estate jewelry, bronzes, glass sculptures, antiques and more! Over 1,000 lots will be offered in day 2 of our 2 day auction weekend! There are multiple lots of important fine art from landscapes and etchings to old masters and portraits. We have Herend Porcelain, a Theo-A-Kochs Barber Chair, an Antique Imperial Qing Dynasty Silver Gilt Enameled Ladies Travel Trinket Box, Oriental Rugs, a Monumental German Gilt Bronze Mounted Centerpiece, Chinese Huanguali Armchairs, and more! Sarasota Estate Auction sarasotaestateauction@gmail.com
View Full Catalog (1069)
- Lot Description
African Tanzanian Makonde Njorowe Pregnant Ceremonial Carved Wood Body Mask. Carved from a single piece of wood, the pointed breasts extend out at far as the belly, with small holes on the sides where strings can be pushed through to tie around the body for the ritual dance. Simple lined motifs are the only visible decorations on the otherwise smooth, life-like craft.
Size: 22 x 11 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.
The Makonde body mask, known as a njorowe, is primarily from Tanzania in East Africa, used in Makonde initiation rituals. During their initiation, boys are isolated for a period of several months during which they are circumcised and taught rules of adult behavior, expectations of married life, traditional songs and dances, and other practical skills. When the young men return to the village, celebrations including masked dance performances are held. A male dancer wears this type of body mask along with a feminine mask on his face, representing a young, pregnant woman. Together with a male masked figure, the dancers pantomime sexual intercourse and demonstrate the burdens of pregnancy and agony of childbirth. The ritual, performed for hundreds of years, is done to prepare young men and women for their roles as future husbands and wives, and their obligations to their family and their tribe.
Condition
All items are sold AS IS. Lot and condition details are for descriptive purposes only. Sarasota Estate Auction is not responsible for errors and/or omissions of condition. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is perfect or free from wear, flaws, or characteristics of age. Please bid according to your own expertise, or request any additional information and/or photographs you deem necessary.
- Shipping Info
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SHIPPING INFORMATION·
Sarasota Estate Auction IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING! BUYER MUST ARRANGE SHIPPING. All shipping will be handled by the winning bidder. Sarasota Estate Auction recommends obtaining shipping quotes before bidding on any items in our auctions. To obtain a quote, please email info@premiershipment.com. Be sure to include the lot you are interested in and address you would like the quote for. Refunds are not offered under any circumstances base on shipping issues, this is up to the buyer to arrange this beforehand.
BIDDER MUST ARRANGE THEIR OWN SHIPPING. Although SEA will NOT arrange shipping for you, we do recommend our preferred shipper Premier Shipping & Crating at info@premiershipment.com You MUST email them, please DO NOT CALLl. If you'd like to compare shipping quotes or need more options, feel free to contact any local Sarasota shippers. You can email any one of the shippers below as well. Be sure to include the lot(s) you won and address you would like it shipped to. Brennan with The UPS Store #0089 - 941-413-5998 - Store0089@theupsstore.com AK with The UPS Store #2689 - 941-954-4575 - Store2689@theupsstore.com Steve with The UPS Store #4074 - 941-358-7022 - Store4074@theupsstore.com Everett with PakMail - 941-751-2070 - paktara266@gmail.com
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- Payment & Auction Policies
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Available payment options
We accept all major credit cards, wire transfers, money orders, checks and PayPal. Please give us a call at (941) 359-8700 or email us at SarasotaEstateAuction@gmail.com should you have any questions about payment.
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- Size
22 x 11 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.
