Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas | Antiquities Day Two - 18th September 2025
Lot 541
An Idoma head crest ungulali
Estimate £20,000 - £30,000
+ Buyers Premium
Description
An Idoma head crest ungulali
Nigeria
the conical base with four holes for attachment to two pairs of janus heads, each with open lips, flared nostrils and crescent shape slit eyes, with an encrusted patina and remains of pigment, a hole to the sides of the top heads previously with attachments and the crown previously with studs,
30cm high, on a base. (2)
Provenance
Christian Duponcheel, Brussels / New York.
Peter Adler, London.
Jenny Armit, acquired from the above circa 1977-1979.
Sotheby's, Paris, Art d'Afrique, d'Océanie, d'Indonésie et des Amériques, 16 December 2022, lot 87.
Literature
Rossdale, Fleur, Classic Meets Contemporary : Twelve Top Designers Create Interiors for Today, 1998.
Los Angeles Times, 13 February 2000, p.15.
Trocme Suzanne, The New Classics. Fresh Idea for Rooms that Endure, Stewart Tabori and Chang, 2002, p.74.
Worn in association with agricultural festival, Christmas plays and funerals. Called ungulali, meaning flute, a reference to the flute music played announcing the entrance of the dancer wearing the crest.