Namji - Namji

01
day
19
hours
31
minutes
54
seconds
Current bid
€ 200
Reserve price not met
Julien Gauthier
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier

With almost a decade of experience bridging science, museum curation, and traditional blacksmithing, Julien has developed a unique expertise in historical arms, armour, and African art.

Estimate  € 1,400 - € 1,600
19 other people are watching this object
FR
€200
FR
€130
FR
€120

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Namji wood statue from Cameroon, an original Namji figure, 34 cm high, 12 cm wide and 6 cm deep, sold with stand, in excellent condition, provenance Verbeemen Collection, Belgium.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

Traditional Namji (or Namchi) statues or dolls are easily identifiable among the rich African statuary. Their extremely simplified shape, straight legs spread in the same plane as the arms, minimalist spherical head and excessively colored bead necklaces are among the elements of identification.

These African dolls from Cameroon were sometimes considered as objects sculpted for purely commercial purposes, to meet the demand of colonists, Germans in particular, for souvenir objects to bring back to Europe.

We know that this is not the case, these figures were offered to women by their fiancé and worn by them in order to ensure their fertility as well as offspring.

The doll represents the future unborn child.

It has also been reported that women without children or milk touch or press these figures so that their desire for motherhood comes true.

Provenance:

From the Verbeemen Collection, Belgium

Seller's Story

Experts in Ancient African Art
Translated by Google Translate

Traditional Namji (or Namchi) statues or dolls are easily identifiable among the rich African statuary. Their extremely simplified shape, straight legs spread in the same plane as the arms, minimalist spherical head and excessively colored bead necklaces are among the elements of identification.

These African dolls from Cameroon were sometimes considered as objects sculpted for purely commercial purposes, to meet the demand of colonists, Germans in particular, for souvenir objects to bring back to Europe.

We know that this is not the case, these figures were offered to women by their fiancé and worn by them in order to ensure their fertility as well as offspring.

The doll represents the future unborn child.

It has also been reported that women without children or milk touch or press these figures so that their desire for motherhood comes true.

Provenance:

From the Verbeemen Collection, Belgium

Seller's Story

Experts in Ancient African Art
Translated by Google Translate

Details

Indigenous object name
Namji
Number of objects
1
Ethnic group/ culture
Namji
Material
wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
34 cm
Width
12 cm
Depth
6 cm
Authenticity
Original/official
SpainVerified
307
Objects sold
100%
pro

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