AFRICAN ART

Item:               Scroll

Origin:           Ethiopia

Material:        Animal Skin

Date:              Unknown

Language:    Ge’ez

Description: 

Ancient Ethiopian Magic Prayer Scroll

These scrolls were used for protection.  They contain Christian text and are written in the ancient Semitic language of Ge’ez.  Ge’ez, the language once spoken in ancient Ethiopia , is now only used by scholars, linguists and holy men/monks.  Currently, the language is used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in prayer services and holy writings.  Ge’ez is considered the father of Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia .

These scrolls are made of animal skin, most likely, the skin of a goat or a calf.  The skin is exposed to lime for long periods of time, scraped with a knife and smooth with a pumice stone.  Then, it is used for holy texts.  Ancient Ethiopian bibles are also written on skin.  They are bound with a string and wood is used for the back and front cover of the bible.  The leaves of these bibles are prepared by the same process as the scroll.  They are written in black and red ink.  Some of the scrolls and bibles have beautiful art work and drawings of the apostles, the saints, the Virgin Mary and  Christ.

This scroll has been in the United States of America for over forty years.  A collector obtained it in the early 1960’s, when it was still possible to bring these types of rare documents out of the country.

ITEM: Nkisi Nkondi

MATERIAL:    Wood, metal, glass, herbs, feather, etc.

AGE:  Unknown  

SIZE:

Regent: Zaire/Central Africa 

This amazing statue, categorized as art by western culture, is the embodiment of the Africans belief in mans ability to access invisible spiritual forces through the use of nature and the elements.  This item called the Nkisis Nkondi is a powerful and amazing object which is believed to protect the owner, family an/or the village. It is said that the Nkisi Nkondi is one of the most powerful fetishes which in this case represents the hunter who goes out into the night and protects the owner from enemies or those who would steal or do harm to the owner and his family. 

The Nikisi Nkondi is activated through various methods.  This includes the lighting of gunpowder in front of it, driving nails into it or feeding it various medicinal herbs or items.  It is believed that this item, made from wood, contains the same life force that is within the tree and by driving nails into the wood the item is activated and therefore goes out to protect one from his enemies.  These items are considered to be containers of spiritual power.  The mirrors are said to chase away evil spirits and give the Nkisi Nkondi the ability to see into both worlds so it could act as a protector in the spiritual and physical realms.

According to Africa The Art Of A Continent, a book published by the Guggenheim Museum , most of these statues date from between 1880 to 1920.  Colonizers repressed the use of these items because they feared what they did not understand.  The statues that the colonizers did not destroy were taken and harbored in museums.  It is said that these items are still made and used until to day. 

The word Nkisi is not untranslatable.   The word Nkondi means hunter.  The bags are called bilongo.  The container has magical herbs which assist the Nkisi Nkondi in accomplishing its goals.  This item was preserved by the villagers for many years and was authorized to leave the village so that it could be protected.  Items of this nature which remain in tack and are not destroyed are said to be extremely powerful and are until this day sort after by priests and practitioners of various African religions.  It is said that these items choose where they want to go and whom they want to protect. 

ITEM:   Dollar Bill

REGENT:Ethiopia

MATERIAL:  Paper

DATE:  Pre-1974

This dollar bill was taken out of circulation after Emperor Haile Salassie was dethroned in 1974.  It is sought after by Jamaicans and many people who acknowledge the importance of Emperor Haile Salassie.

Emperor Haile Salassie (1892-1975) was the last Emperor of Ethiopia.  He was throned in 1928 and became Emperor in1930.  He is a symbol of African independence and fought vigorously to protect Ethiopia from European control.  He fought a valiant fight against Mussolini  who waged war against Ethiopia and forced Emperor Salassie to flee his country in 1936.  Emperor Salassie returned to Ethiopia in 1941 and led the country until he lost power in 1974. Emperor Haile Salassie believed in the education of youth and was hailed by Ethiopians and people all over the world because his lineage dates back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Emperor Salassie is a central figure in the Rastafarian movement.

Ethiopian Icons

These old Ethiopian icons are carved in wood and depict hand painted pictures of Jesus, the Mother Mary, the apostles, the saints and/or other religious figures.  Some of the icons are made of sculptured stone.  This beautiful art work is seen on icons, prayer scrolls and can be found in old Ethiopian bibles. They are also on the inside of old Talismen.

It is said that the icons were prepared by holly men and used for protection.  The holly men fasted, prayed and allowed the Holly Spirit to operate through them while they were preparing these items.  The icons are made out of wood and stone and the scrolls and pages of the ancient Ethiopian bibles are made out of the skin of a goat or calf.  The skin is exposed to lime for long periods of time, scraped with a knife and smooth with a pumice stone. Then, it is used for holy texts.  The bibles are bound with a string and wood is used for the back and front cover of the bible.  The leaves of these bibles are prepared by the same process as the scrolls.  They are written in black and red ink.  The ink is made from special plants and herbs.

These icons have been in the United States of America for over forty years.  A collector obtained them in the 1960’s, when it was still possible to bring these types of rare items out of the country.

ITEM:  Coptic Cross

REGENT:  Ethiopia

MATERIAL:Silver, bronze, copper and various metals.

AGE:  c1940

This Coptic cross is made of silver, bronze, copper and various metals.  It comes from the province of Llabella where the first Christian church in Ethiopia was built.  It was acquired in the 1960’s by a collector and dealer of African art. This cross was hand made.  Similar types are now being machine made and do not have the detailed beauty of this older Coptic cross.  

ITEM: Ethiopian Painting

REGENT: Ethiopia

MATERIAL:  Oil on Animal Skin

AGE:  Unknown

Christian images of Jesus, Mary, Saints and other Christian icons are common in Ethiopian art.  Many old works of art were done on animal skin.  Animal skin is no longer used.