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106 - NGIDE FERTILITY PUPPY (IKIDET) Turkana, Kenya Materials: Dou…
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Estimate €200 - €300
Sale commission
Description
NGIDE FERTILITY PUPPY (IKIDET) Turkana, Kenya Materials: Doum palm fruit (Hyphaene thebaica), glass beads, vegetable fibres, leather Provenance: Permeke family collection From James "Joopie" Permeke, grandson of the painter Constant Permeke. The items in this sale come from the collection of James "Joopie" Permeke, grandson of the major Belgian artist Constant Permeke. major Belgian artist Constant Permeke. Kept within the family for several decades, this collection directly linked to one of Belgium's most important artistic lineages of the twentieth century. twentieth century. Dimensions: H. 13 cm. This ancient Ngid fertility doll is one of the most emblematic objects of the Turkana culture of northern Kenya. culture of northern Kenya. Much more than a simple toy, it embodied notions of maternity, fertility, family continuity and prosperity. family continuity and prosperity. Worn by young girls and women, these effigies were treated with the same care attention comparable to that given to a real child, symbolically participating in the preparation of marriage and the hope of numerous descendants. The present work stands out for the authenticity of its materials and the exceptional richness of its finery. The body is made from the fruit of the doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica), an emblematic species of the arid regions regions of East Africa, while the numerous necklaces of ancient pearls, leather items and ornaments the particular care taken in its manufacture and use. The silhouette, deliberately reduced to focuses all attention on the head and generously developed chest, attributes traditionally associated with femininity traditionally associated with femininity, maternity and abundance. Among the Turkana, the child occupies a central place in the construction of social ties. A proverb collected within the community reminds us that "children create relationships; they bring tribes, enemies, Europeans and Turkana together". enemies, Europeans and Turkana". This profoundly humanist vision is directly reflected in the Ngide dolls, symbols of transmission and unity. Comparable examples can now be found in a number of leading museum collections, including the Rietberg Museum in Zurich, where a doll from the former François and Claire Mottas collection was displayed in the exhibition devoted to African beadwork (Perlkunst aus Afrika, 2018). The quality of conservation quality of this piece, the age of its organic materials and the remarkable density of its adornment make it a particularly attractive particularly attractive testimony to the aesthetic and social values of the pastoral peoples of East Africa. East Africa. With its sculptural presence and its strong symbolic charge linked to fertility, protection and the transmission of life, this work is one of the most endearing and sought-after objects in traditional Turkana art. Turkana art.
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About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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