Sunday, 27 February 2011

Namji Doll. North West Cameroon

The Namji tribe is famous for their wooden dolls carved with geometric features and adorned with multi-colored bead necklaces, cowrie shells, coins, metal strips, fiber and leather. The dolls held by young Namji girls to play and to ensure their fertility, are considered among the finest and the most beautiful dolls in Africa. They are carved from solid hardwood. The doll would have a name, be fed, be talked to and be carried strapped to the back everywhere the child would go. The most popular place to carry ones' doll is strapped to the back the way real infants are toted around. This was the young girls' first baby. This was her responsibility. This doll helped prepare the young Namji woman for her role as mother in her future life.
Oh! And just look at this Fulani cloth from Niger - photo doesn't do it justice, it's stunning

Thursday, 24 February 2011

Back from London



Just back from a couple of days in The Smoke. Stayed with a mate in his appartment in the Ovaltine building, Kings Langley, train into Euston, 20 mins
Ideas buzzing, mind fizzing. Go to the east end now, it is at its most creative but the creeping gentrification has begun - it will soon be Notting Hill, there's no time to lose!

Sunday, 20 February 2011

New Things.....

Well, we had a soft opening yesterday (excuse for a glass of Champagne or two). Apart from the paintings we have some beautiful things from around the world including some fantastic hand woven and dyed textiles from West Africa, carved figures from Indonesia and a stunning Tibetan prayer bell. I'm off to London tomorrow for a couple of days to look round the galleries and see what I can find.


Punu Mask

Saturday, 19 February 2011

Early Morning Opening Day

Oh yes - gallery opens today and would you believe it - it's SNOWING! What happened to spring?

Friday, 4 February 2011

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