African Folk Art

A finely woven Berber rug from the Zenaga region, located in the Moroccan High Atlas, distinguished by a light indigo blue background decorated by paralle...

1960s authentic Moroccan vintage tribal organic wo rug, earth orange tone cors, Handwoven by the Berber women of the Middle Atlas of Morocco. Geometrical abstract designs, great clector pile ethnic carpet...

Time-honored texture and form define this Nigerian copper sculptural object. The intricate geometry was achieved through a process known as scarification. The artisan would meticulou...

Fabous authentic 1960s vintage Moroccan tribal African rug.Handwoven by Berber women in Morocco using organic wo and vegetable dyes. Very nice earth tone cors with dark royal blue.So...

19th-century bronze currency bangle / Manilla with a fixed opening. Minimalist, simple design work with engraved geometrical circles and lines. This type of bracelet was used and wor...

Very important “Nwantamtay” dance African mask, consisting of three sections: The upper in plain rectangular shape surmounted by a crescent shape moon, the middle with beautiful geometric triangles in black bitumen and white kaolin, surrounding a red cruciform in the centre of remarkable contrasting colors, and the lower part or face inscribed in a circular space that inspired numbered great artists like Joan Miro, Picasso and Henry Moore of a very strongly solar symbolism, with a projecting protuberance emanating from the forehead like a sculpted bird beak, that descents toward the mouth. Concentric eyes harmonize with the circular mouth, both with of elegant proportions. The whole mask exudes a supreme harmony and perfect balance rarely seen in this pieces. The back-side presents nice ware that attested the ancient origin and traces of animistic ceremonies as the use of animal blood residues. The painting of brown bitumen or cola, the natural colorants in red and ocher tones and the white kaolin are original and do not show any repainted or restored areas, giving a freshness rarely seen in old pieces. This exceptional mask Bwa, of the Hound`e Region in Burkina-Fasso, was used it the transit ceremonies and funerals manifesting the presence of “Do”, name given to their God sons, protectors and powerful spirits. The round face also represents an owl, the curving beak of the bird plants a seed into the sun, like a female sexual vulva being fecundated by the male organ; the eternal symbol of Ying and Yang, masculine and feminine, and the quest of life and death. This mask of Primitive facture can be compared to the one in the celebrated Verite Collection (this one being larger) sold in Paris at the Hotel Drouot, Saturday June 17, Lot 59, for 80,000 Euros and remarkably stands out from the Pierre and Tannia Matisse sold in Sotheby’s, New York in May 13, 2011. Another similar piece was published in: “Arman et l’art africain...

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorative Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably 20th century The face ...

Moroccan Beni Ouarain carpet, white lush organic natural wo, hand woven by women of the Middle Atlas of Morocco. Authentic Moroccan Beni Ouarain tribal rug from the Berber tribes of ...

A colorful Tunisian Kilim decorated by a repeat pattern of horizontal stripes arranged in clusters of different width and palette. A very happy piece ce...

Large Tribal Mask/Sculpture (Adoné), crafted as originally naturalistic Antelope, Kurumba people, Burkina Faso , early 20th cent. Note :Adoné Headdress was used as portable altars ...

Unique Bi-Color Tourmaline Carving From Madagascar Africa Weight: 42.00Carats Dimension: 2.9 x 1.7 x 0.9 Cm Origin: Africa Color: Peach & Green...

A beautiful and engaging, large African Awa Society mask by the Dogon people of inland West Africa who today reside primarily in Mali. The Dogon people are best known for their relig...

Hand-carved Opon Igede Ifa or divination bowl, Yoruba People, Nigeria, early 20th Century. A Babalawo ("diviner") of the West African Yoruba people uses an Opon Igede Ifa to store th...

Tribal Art - African Art Fang Male Reliquary Figure (Bieri Style), Fang-Betsi Subgroup, Gabon, Circa 1950s Carved from dense hardwood, this 16 3/4-inch-tall figure, with a deep, ric...

a mid 20th Century Moroccan rug featuring small horses Details rug no. j3591 size 5' 1" x 8' 1" (155 x 246 cm)

This intricately-constructed colorful train was painstakingly created by Yoruba artisans in Nigeria in the mid-20th century. Recent designs such as this were based upon sashes that s...

One Isicholo African Hats. This red-ochre dyed women's hat is from the Zulu people, South Africa, and is made of a combination of cotton, human hair over a...

This petite cone-shaped cap, known as laket, was created by an artisan of the Kuba peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The base is made of a simple woven raffia fabric, ...

Yoruba weathered and worn old female figure, an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved heavy very dark/black encrusted patina. Strong face with horizontal scarification ma...

Set of three vintage Zulu long carved wood pipes on custom metal stands, South Africa. Each on separate stand so can be arranged in multiple ways for great ...

Toussiana Plank Bird from Burkina Faso Mid XXem Provenance: private Swedish collection , auction The TOUSSIAN live in the Southwest of Burkina Faso. The mask presented here is a Loni...

Beautiful ceramic mask by N. Dala. Democratic Republic of the Congo Perfect original conditions, 1975.

A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a fertility doll...

Stunning Butterfly Dance mask. Bwa, wich is the area that includes Mali and Burkina faso. Carved wood. 20th century. With a few flaws and repairs.

To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...

A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a ceremonial doll...

Ancient Ethiopian painting imported to Italy by a diplomat during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, in the late 1930s. This genre scene painting is divided into eighteen squares bordered by a black frame and divided into three lines. The scene depicts the story of a couple with three children through the stories of their domestic life and their rural activity; each box has a caption written in the Amharic language. In the first line: they grind; they drink; …illegible… while they spin; they bring water. In the second line: comb, cut your hair; treats your teeth; grind; they bring the wood; they bring water. In the third section: they prepare beer; they prepare bread; they cook bread; they prepare lunch; while they eat; while they drink. This canvas is painted in shades of ocher and is mounteed on a ebonized frame. Dates back to the late 1930s. The canvas show minimal tears and signs of wear but we can customize a restoration. The human figures are characterized by unrealistic proportions of the head and body and depicted in static positions. This sense of fixity and the narration in successive chapters in domestic environments make the paintings easily intelligible and suggestive. A particularly fascinating aspect of Ethiopian art...

Yoruba people have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, twin children are regarded as extraordinary, divine beings protected by Sango, the deity of ...

This is a very simple but fine example of a ritual stool from the Ewe people of the Volta region of Ghana . Carved from ritually chosen wood representing longevity and strength. The...

A fantastic pair of large African gourd storage vessels with native repairs, early to mid 20th century, Ethiopia or Kenya. This pair of dried and hollowed gourd vessels would origin...

To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...

Vintage African Kuba textile, suitable for a modern wall panel, on a long table or to make pillows. Handwoven and hand-dyed raffia fabric - An IDEA: ...

Sometimes referred to as dolls, this is a highly abstract figure with conical head, arms and legs held out from body, long columnar neck wrapped with mulitple strands of different si...

950's Dogon African Dancing mask with stand

A West African Senufo bed hand carved from a single tree having four tapered legs with a raised headrest and decorative scallop detail.

Authentic tribal piece, early 20th century.

Ancestral Senufo cast bronze face mask (Kpelie) from Côte d'Ivoire West Africa. Made using the lost wax technique. Traditionally, the 'Kpelie' is an ancestral mask worn during funeral rites, initiation ceremonies, weddings and births. The function of the mask is determined by the crest at the top of it's head and the subtle scarification markings it carries. The female mask will normally have a plug on it's mouth with the male masks having an open mouth and longer protruding jaw. It is believed that the mask itself embodies the spirit of the dead, hence the name 'Dead Face' The delicate attributes of this mask is a fine example of the excellent artistry of the Senufos. This is a male Senufo Mask...

A pair of Akua´ba (Akuba/Akwaba) fertility dolls from Ghana. 20th century. 2 disc-headed carved figures, similar but not identical. Good condition. Signs of wear consistent with age.

A Rare and Extremely Fine South African Tsonga Prestige Staff by the ‘Baboon Master’ Depicting a Zulu elder wearing a head-ring Superb silky reddish brown patina Late 19th Century ...

A Chowke wood chair with figural carvings Africa, Angola

Tall hand-carved wooden oracle or divination tapper "Iroke Ifa" statue, showing a kneeling woman holding her breasts. Yoruba, Nigeria, circa 1930s. Yoruba belief specifies that each ...

The Dan, a sub-tribe of the Dan-Nguere, inhabit eastern Liberia, Guinea Conakry, and Côte d'Ivoire. Their social and spiritual structure is based on the secret society Poro, which me...

This impressive collection of four carved wood figures are from the landlocked African country of Burkina Faso. This nation bordered by 6 other countries ...

Nok Terracotta Standing Dignitary Figure in Royal Pose. I-II Century AD. Certificate of Authenticity with TL Test and Passport from Europe. Museum Piece...

19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical design with lines and accent points on the top and at both tips. This type o...

20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably century Very decorative. Comes from a Berlin private collection.

Dance mask/ sculpture. Known as a Kifwebe mask. Songye. Carved wood. 20th century. With a few flaws and repairs.

The knives were handmade with heavily decorated Forged Iron blades with embellished wooden handles. They would use brass or leather wrappings and tacks that turned their weapons into...

19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical swirled rope work design and tips are shaped with large flat ends with geome...

Dan Mask from Ivory Coast, Africa,, MID 20TH CENTURY.. gREAT COLOR / PATINA..

Traditional North African camel saddle handcrafted in stitched and hand-dyed leather with distinctive geometric black decoration and braided leather edging. The sculptural form with...

Early Yoruba offering bowl in the from of a male figure with a beard riding on horse back surrounded by four small attendants, finely carved with nice patina from native use. Probabl...

Marked by the telltale Bamileke rounded disc seat and base, this stool features a group of pondering human figures as its vertical supports instead of the more common abstract carvin...

Moorish large copper filigree incense burner

The Shi peoples are agriculturalists living on the shores of Lake Kivu in D.R. Congo. Artistically they are best known for their distinctively carved cups and pitchers...

A powerful and ethnographically significant example of Central African ritual sculpture, this nail-studded zoomorphic figure is a Kozo — a Janus-headed dog nkisi (power object) of th...

Sublime Loose Bi-Color Tourmaline Drilled Carving For Jewelry Making Weight: 17.15 Carats Dimension: 2.3 x 1.6 x 0.7 Cm Origin: Africa Color: Pink & Green Shape: Carving Qualit...

Lovely Faceted Strawberry Shape Watermelon Tourmaline Drilled Carving From Africa WEIGHT: 14.50 Carat DIMENSIONS: 1.98 x 1.64 x 0.63 Cm ORIGIN: Madagascar, Africa Shape: Strawber...

Early to mid-19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in circle form. Intricate graphical geometrical. This type of bracelet was worn/used by the Zaghawa People also called Bé...

Vintage Tuareg Woven Rush Mat – Saharan Decorative Arts A striking vintage Tuareg woven mat featuring bold geometric symbolism in dark indigo and natural straw tones. Handwoven in t...