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a bronze figurine of a man riding a horse with a hat on his headan old bronze figurine of a man on a horse with a bucket on his headthree bronze figurines of animals and a man on a horse
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76 - TSHOKWÉ SNUFF BOX ANGOLA Made of wood and leather H.
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Estimate €6,000 - €9,000
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Description
TSHOKWÉ SNUFF BOX ANGOLA Made of wood and leather H.: 13.8 cm (5³?? in.) A Chokwe mortar, Angola Provenance: Eduardo Uhart, Paris and Santiago Pierre Dartevelle (1940–2022), Brussels Jean-Jacques Rotthier (1932–2009) Collection, Brussels, then passed down through the family Bibliography: Arts d’Afrique noire, 1995, no. 94, ill. (advertisement, Galerie Dartevelle) Dartevelle (Valérie) & Plisnier (Valentine), Pierre Dartevelle and Primitive Art: Memory and Continuity, vol. II, 5 Continents, 2021, p. 109, fig. 132 Among the remarkable Chokwe mortars in the Jean-Jacques Rotthier collection is this exquisite example, surmounted by a carved equestrian figure. Tobacco was introduced into Chokwe territory in the 17th? century via Portuguese trade networks. Initially smoked in pipes, this precious plant was gradually transformed into snuff from the 18th century onwards. Owing to its high cost, tobacco became a luxury item reserved for chiefs, elders and high-ranking individuals. This mortar is adorned with rare European brass upholstery nails, which served as important symbols of wealth and prestige. The Chokwe used these richly decorated objects during public audiences to honour their distinguished visitors. Beyond its social significance, the consumption of tobacco held profound ritual importance. Smoking or snuffing tobacco was regarded as a means of establishing a link between the world of the living and that of the spirits, enabling communication with protective spirits and paying homage to the lineage’s ancestors. A CHOKWE MORTAR ANGOLA Wood and leather H.: 5³?? in. Provenance: Eduardo Uhart, Paris and Santiago Pierre Dartevelle (1940–2022), Brussels Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection (1932–2009), Brussels, then by descent Bibliography: *Arts d’Afrique noire*, 1995, no. 94, ill. (advertising Galerie Dartevelle) Dartevelle (Valérie) & Plisnier (Valentine), Pierre Dartevelle and Primitive Art: Memory and Continuity, vol. II, 5 Continents, 2021, p. 109, fig. 132 The Rotthier Collection features an exceptional selection of Chokwe mortars, exemplified by this fine example surmounted by a carved equestrian figure. Tobacco was introduced into Chokwe territory during the seventeenth century through Portuguese trade networks. Initially smoked in pipes, by the eighteenth century it was being ground into fine snuff. Owing to its high cost, tobacco became a luxury reserved for chiefs, elders and other individuals of high social standing. This mortar is adorned with rare European brass tacks, which served as powerful symbols of wealth and prestige. The Chokwe used such finely ornamented vessels during public audiences to offer hospitality to distinguished visitors. Beyond its social function, the consumption of snuff held deep ritual significance. Inhaling or smoking tobacco was believed to bridge the physical and spiritual realms, enabling communication with guardian spirits and the veneration of ancestral lineage.
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About the sale The Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection: Art from Africa and Oceania
Auction location
Auction time 09/08/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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