African Axe and Mask on Ebay

Lew · 25th July 2008, 03:48 AM

Hi All

Picked these two items up on Ebay today. The axe seems similar to one in my collection below but I have no clue about the mask? May be Benin but I don't know how old?

Lew

colin henshaw · 25th July 2008, 08:29 AM

Nice axes...the top one I think probably Barotse and the lower one maybe Chokwe.

The brass mask is probably from Nigeria (Benin style), but doesn't look of much great age.

Regards

Lew · 25th July 2008, 12:41 PM

Thanks Colin

I though the mask was later 20th century but it seems to be of better quality than some I have seen. The axe seems to be late 19th or early 20th century though.

Lew

Ferguson · 25th July 2008, 01:33 PM

I love the lines on that new ax. Gorgeous curves.

Steve

Lew · 27th July 2008, 06:29 AM

I saw a similar mask on the net stating it was Ashante?

Lew

Bill M · 31st July 2008, 01:58 PM

Brass, not bronze is the more common alloy from Benin. They like the more red look, so this would give credence to this being from Benin.

Saw a wonderful exhibit of about 200 Benin pieces. The biggest pieces I have ever seen.

Some were almost six feet tall!
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metr...s_0503_01.html

Lew · 14th August 2008, 05:19 PM

Well the pair finally arrived today. The axe is quite nice the bulb part at the top is missing 3-4 small brass tacks (should I replace them?) and the mask seems older with a nice deep patina to it. Don't really know if these pics are any better but I will post them?

Lew

Tim Simmons · 14th August 2008, 05:53 PM

The axe looks nice to me. The mask could be a real hip/belt mask from Nigeria, Benin city, does not mean it is very old. The modelling is good quallity and appears a good casting. I feel if the castings have nice thin walls they are less likely to be made as tourist items. This looks pretty good to me I would gamble the real thing possible from around the first quarter of the 20th cent.

Lew · 14th August 2008, 06:07 PM

Tim

the casting seems thinner than most and there are a few pin holes on the right side facing us slightly thicker towards the nose and mouth. Here are some closeups of the axe head.

Lew · 26th August 2008, 02:00 AM

Well I was able to find my old 2.1 meg camera so here is a shot of the axe with some antique tacks/knobs that a fellow formite sent me and they worked out pretty well

Two pics before and after.

Thanks

Lew

25th July 2008, 03:48 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	African Axe and Mask on Ebay Hi All Picked these two items up on Ebay today. The axe seems similar to one in my collection below but I have no clue about the mask? May be Benin but I don't know how old? Lew Attached Images

14th August 2008, 05:19 PM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Well the pair finally arrived today. The axe is quite nice the bulb part at the top is missing 3-4 small brass tacks (should I replace them?) and the mask seems older with a nice deep patina to it. Don't really know if these pics are any better but I will post them? Lew Attached Images

14th August 2008, 06:07 PM	#9
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim the casting seems thinner than most and there are a few pin holes on the right side facing us slightly thicker towards the nose and mouth. Here are some closeups of the axe head. Attached Images

26th August 2008, 02:00 AM	#10
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Well I was able to find my old 2.1 meg camera so here is a shot of the axe with some antique tacks/knobs that a fellow formite sent me and they worked out pretty well Two pics before and after. Thanks Lew Attached Images

25th July 2008, 08:29 AM	#2
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Nice axes...the top one I think probably Barotse and the lower one maybe Chokwe. The brass mask is probably from Nigeria (Benin style), but doesn't look of much great age. Regards

25th July 2008, 12:41 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Thanks Colin I though the mask was later 20th century but it seems to be of better quality than some I have seen. The axe seems to be late 19th or early 20th century though. Lew

25th July 2008, 01:33 PM	#4
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	I love the lines on that new ax. Gorgeous curves. Steve

27th July 2008, 06:29 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I saw a similar mask on the net stating it was Ashante? Lew

31st July 2008, 01:58 PM	#6
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Brass, not bronze is the more common alloy from Benin. They like the more red look, so this would give credence to this being from Benin. Saw a wonderful exhibit of about 200 Benin pieces. The biggest pieces I have ever seen. Some were almost six feet tall! http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metr...s_0503_01.html

14th August 2008, 05:53 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,782	The axe looks nice to me. The mask could be a real hip/belt mask from Nigeria, Benin city, does not mean it is very old. The modelling is good quallity and appears a good casting. I feel if the castings have nice thin walls they are less likely to be made as tourist items. This looks pretty good to me I would gamble the real thing possible from around the first quarter of the 20th cent.