Bidspirit auction | TANZANIAN CALABASH

TANZANIAN CALABASH - Ca. 19th century AD. A richly adorned ritual calabash, surmounted by a carved wooden human head with stylised features and pierced ears for metal earrings. The neck of the figure and the shoulders of the gourd are draped with numerous strands of multicoloured beads, as well as shells and fibre cords, forming a lavish assemblage. A large pair of cowrie shells is prominently attached, symbolising fertility and protection.Size: 270mm x 220mm; Weight: 1.04kgProvenance: Prince collection, 1990s-2014; Ex. Zemanek Munster, Tribal Art, 19 June 2010, Lot 553.