From left to right:
BAULE STYLE , Heddle pulley 5, 7.75" high, $100
BAULE STYLE , Heddle pulley 6, 6.5" high, $100
BAULE STYLE , Heddle pulley 7, 6.25" high, $100
BAULE STYLE , Heddle pulley 8, 6" high, $125
Photographs © Tim Hamill
BAULE STYLE , Heddle Pulleys
In traditional Africa, heddle pulleys were used in strip-weaving long narrow strips of cloth which would be later sewn together to make a large textile. Used in pairs, they allowed for the shifting of the warp threads so the weft thread shuttles could pass thrpugh, The finely carved pulleys of masks, heads and figures were intended to protect the weaver and help him produce fine cloth.
For more information, see Daniel Mato, "ART OF AFRICA. WEAVER and CARVER".
Numbers 5 and 6, possibly a pair, depict figures wearing the powerful Bo Nun Amuin mask. Despite their appearance we believe all of these were made to be sold.
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