SNK 1212-70

Chokwe Axe, Angola/Congo

L: 51 cm (20,1″), W: 18,5 cm (7,3″)

Chokwe axes are deeply rooted in symbolism, status and power. They are held as an insignia and command respect. Some were ‘court art’ object owned by chiefs – headman and nobles. Others were used for hunting.

Chokwe from Angola sculptors were the most famous of the region. Some sculptors made objects used for hunting. Others were hired by the great chieftainries and worked exclusively for the court. They sculpted scepters and thrones with figurines, fans etc. – all demonstrating a great deal of refinement.

Provenance: Private Danish collection. It was either acquired directly from Lau (Laurence) Sunde’s collection in Copenhagen, which dates back to the 1940s, or Lau (Laurence) Sunde was an adviser to the collector.
Sunde had a “Etnografica” boutique in 1948, that became recognized among collectors as the most specialized boutique of its kind at the time. Tribal and oriental artefacts were purchased from private collectors as well as at auctions in Paris, Amsterdam and London, among other places.

Full description of Lau (Laurence) Sunde will be forwarded by request.

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