Dear David 

I enjoyed our evening together and our discussions very much.  
It is always a pleasure to entertain more sophisticated minds on the subject of art, 
and in such a relaxed way. 

The Mende Bundu helmet is a significant addition to my collection, 
and settled in the moment you placed it on my table, it wasn't going to leave my 
house from that moment ! The mask has a joyful expression, and so very much reflects 
its purpose - to please the ancestral spirits.  
As you said, "its hair is like music" - a very apt statement, and so there is an attractive 
harmony and powerful organic rhythm achieved in the piece which I like.

It will rest with me a very long time.  

On a personal note, it is nearly 37 years since I watched both the Vai and Mende dance 
in the forests of Sierra Leone, and so this piece helps me reflect a lot on where my 
love of Africa started. 

I wish to add that I feel you have a gift in your perception of African art, 
and few key words in your descriptions help in opening the souls of others like myself 
to view certain important objects in the original light for which they were intended.  

This has been a welcome influence in elevating my own artistic consciousness on a few occasions 
by now, and has thrown some further light upon the darkest inner horizons of primitive art 
in my life. 

As an artist and collector, I enjoy the dynamics of challenging dealers in their knowledge 
and insight on certain canons of African art I am more familiar with, and you have opened 
some new doors for me on the subject for which I am grateful. 

I know we will keep in touch. 
You are welcome back here anytime 

Kind regards 

Chris Wild is an Englishman living in Normandy.  
He is an artist, researcher and writer, and has 
worked on Central African sacred forests; secret 
societies and art as a consultant and government 
advisor.  

A big Congo nail fetish sold to a Museum   From a private Belgian family who had a plantation in Congo, this impressive nail fetish has   been brought back just after World War II and is to be dated from the 30's ...                        sold to the Museum of Art & Archaeology, University of Missouri-Columbia see the page at : http://maa.missouri.edu/objects/african/2009-645CongoNkisi.html Height: 1m 13 cm. Dear David--- You should have already received a message from the director, Dr. Barker, but I just want to say the Nkisi survived his trip and we are THRILLED with him. He certainly has a presence! We got the packet of information too---thanks for that. It has been a pleasure working with you. --- Jeffrey B. Wilcox Curator of Collections/Registrar   http://maa.missouri.edu/ ---------------------------- David-- The figure arrived, safely and in good condition. He's now been fully unpacked and we've done a preliminary examination. No problems, no damage and he seems to be as described and as promised. We couldn't be happier, and thank you! Alex W. Barker, Ph.D., Director http://maa.missouri.edu/

Dear David, I am writing to thank you for your superb introduction to Jean Willy Mestach.  As you recall, we wanted to borrow his Chamba double figure for our Benue River exhibition.  Unfortunately, we decided against it, because, Mr. Mestach wanted to lend only to two venues.  But anyway, you made this task happen and I am very grateful to you. I see that you are expanding and branching out! That is great! Your interview with Amyas Naegele was interesting.  We have, actually, purchased some pieces from him for our holdings. I can say with pride that I "know" you from your first days!! You created a wonderful platform for African Arts, and I hope that you will continue with great enthusiasm. Now, about "Tintin"! I grew up with the books, and I just purchased (today, during my lunch break) a book about Tintin entitled "Tintin and the Secret of Literature" by Tom McCarthy.  I'll let you know! Have a wonderful holiday season! Gassia   Gassia Armenian Curatorial and Research Associate Fowler Museum at UCLA One of the largest and finest in the United States, and one of the top twenty   African collections worldwide, this collection offers a superb representation of the arts of many African  nations, including objects from Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo  (formerly Zaire), Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. and the The Rubin Collection (West Africa)   308 Charles E Young Drive, North   Box 951549   Los Angeles, CA 90095-1549

Some Books published by the Fowler: Visions of Africa : The Jerome L Joss Collection of African Art at UCLA (Paperback) Sleeping Beauties: The Jerome L. Joss Collection of African Headrests at UCLA (Paperback) Turn Up the Volume!: A Celebration of African Music ~ Jacqueline Cogdell Djedje Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African American Identity ~ Doran H. Ross Most books of the fowler have hundred of pages, and good illustrations see more Fowler african art books

Hope you enjoyed reading these testimonials, I would love to hear from your ideas and what you think are the five core skills to become an "African Art Expert", after reading this, please hit the reply button.

David Norden

P.S.: The objects above are not for sale anymore, but you can choose among the many available African Art from David Norden collection, in the following sections: 

African Masks
African Statues
African Objects
Outside African Art

Other services:
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