Pagne made of pearls and shells - Kirdi - Cameroon
05
days
06
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37
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14
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€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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This Kirdi beaded loincloth, named “Pagne en perles et coquillages”, is from Cameroon and measures 200 × 430 × 10 mm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Cameroun
Kirdi
Dimensions :
Height: 200mm
Width: 430mm
Depth: 10mm
I. Origin and Technical Description
This magnificent beaded ensemble of 43 cm in width is a traditional sex-covering loincloth (often generically referred to as a loincloth) from the Kirdi peoples, which include various ethnic groups (such as the Mafa, Fali, Kapsiki, or Podoko) living mainly in the Mandara Mountains region, in northern Cameroon and at the borders with Chad.
This piece features the major characteristics of beadwork from this region:
• Beadwork (seed beads): A dense weaving of small glass beads, forming here a regular alignment of three large geometric motifs in white diamonds standing out against a very bright red-orange background. The upper edge is highlighted by a frieze of white beads attached to the suspension cord made of braided plant fibers, visible on pagne_kirdi-A090.jpg.
• Lower ornaments: The lower border finishes with a row of fringes made of knots of cords weighted with cowries (dried shells). The reverse side, visible on pagne_kirdi-A090-4.jpg, shows the regularity of the bead rows on the textile structure.
II. Usage and Ritual Significance
In the cultures of Northern Cameroon, this type of object (sometimes called picuran) plays an aesthetic, social, and protective role:
• Status and maturity marker: This pearl loincloth was worn exclusively by women. Depending on its size, color, and the complexity of its motifs, it indicated precisely the wearer’s status: puberty, celibacy, engagements, or married woman status.
• Festive and ceremonial adornment: Although it could have served as everyday clothing in the past, this richly adorned loincloth was primarily worn at major community events: end-of-initiation celebrations, harvest festivals, weddings, and ritual dances.
• Fertility symbol and protection: The widespread use of cowries is not accidental. In West and Central Africa, the cowry is a universal symbol of prosperity, wealth, and fertility. Moreover, during dance movements, the clinking of the shells provides a rhythmic click that fully contributes to the musical and symbolic dynamic of the celebration, while acting as spiritual protection for the woman.
Packages are dispatched quickly from Monday to Saturday with tracking numbers.
Delivery via Chronopost between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo International.
We speak english.
Mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateCameroun
Kirdi
Dimensions :
Height: 200mm
Width: 430mm
Depth: 10mm
I. Origin and Technical Description
This magnificent beaded ensemble of 43 cm in width is a traditional sex-covering loincloth (often generically referred to as a loincloth) from the Kirdi peoples, which include various ethnic groups (such as the Mafa, Fali, Kapsiki, or Podoko) living mainly in the Mandara Mountains region, in northern Cameroon and at the borders with Chad.
This piece features the major characteristics of beadwork from this region:
• Beadwork (seed beads): A dense weaving of small glass beads, forming here a regular alignment of three large geometric motifs in white diamonds standing out against a very bright red-orange background. The upper edge is highlighted by a frieze of white beads attached to the suspension cord made of braided plant fibers, visible on pagne_kirdi-A090.jpg.
• Lower ornaments: The lower border finishes with a row of fringes made of knots of cords weighted with cowries (dried shells). The reverse side, visible on pagne_kirdi-A090-4.jpg, shows the regularity of the bead rows on the textile structure.
II. Usage and Ritual Significance
In the cultures of Northern Cameroon, this type of object (sometimes called picuran) plays an aesthetic, social, and protective role:
• Status and maturity marker: This pearl loincloth was worn exclusively by women. Depending on its size, color, and the complexity of its motifs, it indicated precisely the wearer’s status: puberty, celibacy, engagements, or married woman status.
• Festive and ceremonial adornment: Although it could have served as everyday clothing in the past, this richly adorned loincloth was primarily worn at major community events: end-of-initiation celebrations, harvest festivals, weddings, and ritual dances.
• Fertility symbol and protection: The widespread use of cowries is not accidental. In West and Central Africa, the cowry is a universal symbol of prosperity, wealth, and fertility. Moreover, during dance movements, the clinking of the shells provides a rhythmic click that fully contributes to the musical and symbolic dynamic of the celebration, while acting as spiritual protection for the woman.
Packages are dispatched quickly from Monday to Saturday with tracking numbers.
Delivery via Chronopost between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo International.
We speak english.
Mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Pagne made of pearls and shells
Ethnic group/ culture
Kirdi
Country of Origin
Cameroon
Material
Beads / cowries / string
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
