Estimate: $200 - $400
Price Realized: $128 Includes buyer's premium
Carved wooden wand on stand two human heads on each side with metal nails for pupils and an elaborate carved handle on wooden base
carved wood
with stand: 10 1/4 x 3 x 3 inches
Property from the Estate of Rosa and Aaron Esman
overall good condition, with cracks to handle including a vertical 5 inch one from the base to the bottom of the double axe, with chip to tip of double axe and loss to base
If you are interested in bidding, please contact us to request more photos, or make an appointment for in-person inspection. To ensure prompt assistance, we recommend reaching out at least 24 hours before the auction by calling 212-353-2277 or emailing us at admin@capsuleauctions.com.
Condition reports are based on visual inspection by the Capsule team under typical office lighting. Unless otherwise noted, items are not examined under UV light in advance of sale. We do not guarantee the content of written or verbal condition reports. Remember, all lots are previously owned and all sales are final. The absence of a condition report does not imply that there are no condition issues with the lot.
Art has not been examined out of the frame unless otherwise stated. Frames, lampshades, or items described as “supplementary” are not considered integral to the value of the lot and are excluded from condition assessments. This includes any mat, mounting, glazing, hanging apparatus, case, box, or stand. Timepiece movements, lighting elements and items with mechanical or electrical components have not been thoroughly tested and are not covered under warranty by Capsule.
Throughout their seventy-year marriage, Rosa and Aaron Esman shared a profound passion for the arts. Rosa Esman was a prominent figure in the art world, owning several renowned galleries such as Tanglewood Gallery and Rosa Esman Gallery, and co-founding Ubu Gallery. She was a pioneer print publisher of limited edition artworks while at Tanglewood Press, Original Editions, and Abrams Original Editions. Dr. Aaron Esman was an avid enthusiast of literature, classical and jazz performances, and theater. As a psychiatrist, he delved deeply into the intricacies of the human mind and its relationship with creativity, often writing on the subject.
Together, the Esmans cultivated a diverse and vibrant collection reflective of their shared and individual interests, comprising Modern, Post-War, and Contemporary art. In the 1960s, they embarked on a journey to build a new collection of world art encompassing African, Ancient, Pre-Columbian, and Oceanic work, continuing to expand it until the 1980s.
In May 2023, a portion of their collection was sold in Sotheby’s Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas auction. This collection showcased an array of artworks from various regions of Africa, including Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, among others, alongside selections from Oceania and Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Noteworthy among the sold items was a regal Bamana Antelope Headdress from Mali, fetching $15,240.
Additionally, a Protoclassic circa 100 BC - AD 250 Colima Dog, sourced from the André Emmerich Gallery, sold for $4,445. Some pieces featured in World Art were also purchased from André Emmerich Gallery. Other notable sources include Sotheby Parke-Bernet, the Omar Khayam Museum, and more, enriching the diverse tapestry of the Esman collection.
