Old Nandwa Blawa ceremonial whisk Baule first half of the 20th century

Old “Nandwa Blawa” ceremonial whisk (fly whisk) of the Baule; Ivory Coast first half of the 20th century; detailed carved handle of a ceremonial fly whisk for high-ranking dignitaries; these objects were presented at ceremonies as a sign of rank and belonging; the handle is decorated with fine geometric decor and three ancestral faces in the typical Baule style; made of hard wood; high quality; minor damage to the edge of the upper 'mushroom' (see photos); great patina; traces of use according to age; measurements: 37,5 cm; provenance: Estate / collection Gundi and Heinz Scharpf (1940-2018); The famous zookeepers from the Wilhelma zoological and botanical garden in Stuttgart had acquired the African objects during their trips to Cameroon and West Africa in the 1960s and 1970s;