141. EIN DOLCH DER TIV-LEUTE AUS DEM 19. JAHRHUNDERT MIT SCHLEIFENGRIFFEN.

A Collection of Tribal Weapons, Masks & Artifacts

Welcome to this very special sale of tribal weapons, masks and other fascinating artefacts from across the globe. Single owner collections are a rare pleasure for us all, and this collection is as fine and varied as one could imagine. The range of bladed weapons is extraordinary, the Indian swords amongst the finest to come to the market for quite some time. The quality of the masks speak for themselves, examples with such age and in such fine condition are rare outside of museums, and are always a joy to see.

This is a collection that began to take shape in the late 1950’s, a time when ‘junk shops’ and provincial auction rooms were dispersing collections from homes that had largely remained untouched for decades. To have focused on tribal artefacts and weapons at a time when they were little understood seems, in hindsight, to have been a stroke of genius. The years of research, travel, study and interaction with museum professionals has made this one of the most fascinating collections I have had the pleasure of working on. I first encountered this collector and collection some twenty-five years ago and I feel very honoured to have been asked to offer it for sale. The initial plan might have been to establish a museum, but over a lifetime these items have been used to explain, to teach, to illustrate and to inspire all those who came into their presence. As so many years have passed, it is now time for the items to find new homes, new environments and further possibilities to tell the stories they prompt.