South African Sculpture

This charming clay sculpture is from Tribal Africa, a pottery workshop located in Knysna, South Africa, which specializes in handcrafted ceramic figurines garbed in the traditional dress of South Africa’s nine tribal groups. Instead of molds, each piece is individually sculpted out of clay.

In addition to glazed decoration, the pieces are often adorned with jewelry and fabric, such as this whimsical woman's wire earrings and cloth headdress.

Her outfit represents the traditional dress of a woman of the Xhosa people, the second largest ethnic group in Southern Africa.

 All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

A Luminous Lovely Lady

This beautiful hand-painted tile in its original elaborate antique frame is from the German company of Konigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM). In the 19th Century, KPM was renown for its painted plaques depicting historic scenes or replicating famous paintings. KPM plaques were typically presented in ornate frames and the unusual frame on this example is exceptional, giving the impression that the lissom lass is looking out of a window.

The plaque is after a painting entitled “Lisette” by the German artist Georg Hom (1838-1911); in fact, when this blogger carefully unscrewed the back of the frame to confirm that it held a tile and not a print, on the back of the porcelain plaque were the fragile remains of a paper label carrying the name “Lisette.” Hom was known for his genre pictures of pretty women, sometimes illuminated by candlelight.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

 

Intricate Art from Africa

This elaborately beaded sash was created by the Yoruba people of Nigeria.  Originally, beaded objects were considered sacred and only could be worn by royalty and the priesthood. Such sashes traditionally reflected the owner's noble or spiritual position and would be worn during public ceremonies.  Creating these intricate beaded pieces requires great skill (and thousands of beads).  In modern Nigeria, Yoruba artisans hand craft these stunning sashes as a form of artistic expression and these sashes are sought after by collectors of African art.

Cowrie shells were also an indication of wealth.

In some places the canvas base is built up to create a three dimensional effect. Images of birds and lizards originally indicated divine powers.  For example, birds could represent a female force that protected the king and punished those who engaged in immoral acts. 

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

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