COUPLES

Those objects that have been vetted as authentic by outside experts (Christophe Rolley, Edith Mbella, Daniel Mato, Rand Ningali, Phil Warish and Ethan Rider) are labelled as such. Objects made for the market are labelled accordingly, and objects in our archives or on pages no longer on our website should be assumed to be inauthentic if not otherwise labelled.

 

BAKONGO
Staffs 1&2

 DOGON
Couples

 

EWE
Couples

 BAULE
Couples


 

 LUBA
Headrests
Catalog

 

LOBI
Couples

HEMBA
Couples


LUBA
Couple
Stools


FON
Couple 4

The couples below have been sold and are left here for reference and educational purposes.

 

MOSSI
Dolls 14-15
SOLD



GAN
Couple 1
SOLD

TIKAR
Couple 1
SOLD
 



MATACOM
Couple 1
SOLD

BAMANA
Chi-wara
SOLD

 

 DOGON
Metal Couples
SOLD

FON
Couples

SOLD



 

PENDE
Couple 1
SOLD

 

FANG
Couple 1
SOLD

BAMANA
Couple 1
SOLD



AJA
Figures
SOLD


NYAMWEZI
Couple 16
SOLD

 

DOGON
Doors
SOLD

BAULE
Doors
SOLD

ORON
Couple 2
SOLD

 

 

PENDE
Couple 1
SOLD

 

FANG
Couple 1
SOLD

BAMANA
Couple 1
SOLD

 

IGBO
Couple 1
SOLD

 

DOGON
Stools
SOLD

 

DOGON
Granary Doors
SOLD

 

VARIOUS
Metal Couples
SOLD
 

MUMUYE
Couple 72
SOLD



PERE
Couples
SOLD

 LUBA
Offering Bowls

SOLD

Photographs © Hamill Gallery

Usually representing spirits, ancestors or the primordial couple, figures like these were placed in shrines and treated with great respect. Through a wide range of style, scale, belief and function the couples depicted share a timeless, serene equality necessary to the continuity of their societies. Traditionally, most of the couples are two freestanding figures, conceived as a unit, and posed frontally, symmetrically, in formal postures and of equal size.

Sculpted as stools and headrests, the male and female figures serve as symbolic supports, or as handles when worked into the design of bowls. Couples also appear as decorative elements on African doors.

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