Sub-Saharan African Folk Art

Forged iron currency, Chamba people, Northeastern Nigeria A piece of traditional currency used for barter or exchange, it measures 15 inches (38 cm) high by 18 inches (45.7 cm) wide...

19th century hammer currency, Ensuba, Bafia People, Cameroon Sometimes referred to as potato masher currency, but known to the Bafia people as ensuba,...

Dan Janus double faced protective Kinde charm, from the Dan people of Ivory Coast, West Africa. Used as a charm for protection, with two different faces to show the duality of the w...

The Luba people of Zaire believed that ancestors visited them through dreams. This belief led to elaborately worked headrests, known as "seats of dreams." Such headrests were used to...

From the Akan or Ashanti peoples, Ghana, shrine figure, a standing female figure with black hair and details, remains of white pigment, with arms out holding a bottle, includes custo...

Kenya tribal wood headrest, stylized natural animal form, early 20th century, African. Early Rendille or Borana Headrest from Kenya. Using naturally found branch connections to form a stylized three legged animal form, these headrests were a treasured personal item...

Hand carved with a figurative design, this TOTEM-like wooden post was crafted by an artisan of the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria. Resembling the tall houseposts used to support the roof of a home, this shorter post would have been placed on a veranda courtyard as a symbolic and decorative element and did not bear weight. This veranda post...

Early carved wood small Salampasu Warrior's Mask, Zaire, Africa early 20th century, remains of black and white pigments, on custom stand. Mask 10", height on stand 14" strong angul...

Small dancing Lobi figure with arms out, and cubist face from Ghana, West Africa. ex James Willis, San Francisco, CA. Damage to proper right hand, fingers absent. Heavy encrusted p...

Early Ghost Like Kumu Mask With Kaolin Open Eyes Mouth Teeth, Congo, Africa It is in good condition with wear, polish and erosion from traditional use, appropriate for its age, use,...

World-renowned for high-quality lost wax casting, the city of Benin in West Africa has been a leading producer of fine cast brass and bronze sculptures since as early as the 16th cen...

Throwing Knife (Ngalio) Sara People, Chad, Africa Mid-20th century Material: Iron Height on custom display stand: 28 in. / 71 cm Known as "ngalio", thi...

TOTEM 2 sleep guardian or Kata Sergo from the ethnic Gorague´, South / South West Ethiopia. Different ridges are intended to evacuate the bad vibes from the fireplace to the top hous...

Early 20th century Chiwara Headdress, Bamana (Bambara) People, Mali Chiwara headcrests represent the antelope spirit who taught the Bamana people ...

African Urembo Beaded vintage necklace choker by the Maasai Tribe Kenya Vintage African Urembo beaded necklace choker. Handmade in Kenya by the ...

Prestige open top basket Sukuma People (?) Tanzania Circa 1900 Coiled and woven basketry, natural fibers and dye 8 x 6 1/2 inches (21 x 16.5 cm) Provenance: ex private collection U...

Old Pende giwoyo mask with red pigments, black and white beard with carved triangles and woven black raffia hair cap The mask is 13 1/4 inches high, on custom...

Extra Large Curved Hoe currency Angas, Nigeria Early 20th century Iron Measures: 29.5 x 20.5 in. / 75 x 52 cm Height on custom display stand: 33.25 in. / 84 cm Weight: 20.6 pounds / 9.34 kg Combined weight with base: 43.8 pounds / 19.9 kg The large currency forms are comprised of a heavy sheet of iron forged into the shape of a curved hoe. They were customary gifts for a bride’s father as well as having a function during wedding celebrations (Ballarini, The Perfect Form...

Well-used wood door lock used by the Bambara people, Mali, Africa, with crosspiece. The top is an animal head with horns possibly an antelope. Includes...

Sometimes called a "Bura bell" due to its shape, this sculptural terra cotta object was part of the Bura tribe's burial ritual. Buried with its flared mouth facing down, this cylindrical storage...

Circular Lost Wax Cast Bronze Discs or pendants, one with beautiful butterfly in low relief. The other has abstract design, both have finely modeled rings as background to the design...

Hoe-Shaped Currency "Mbili Ngbaka," Ngbaka, D.R. Congo 20th century Iron, accumulation 16 x 7 in. / 41 x 18 cm Height on custom display stand: 18.25 in. / 46 cm This interesting type of iron currency was used for major transactions such as dowry payments. The two wings added to the lower tips of the hoe underline the non-utilitarian character of this type of currency (Ballarini, "The Perfect Form...

Ndop Panel Bamileke people Cameroon Grasslands Cotton strip weave with a two part dyeing process: stitch-resist indigo dye on a pre-dyed cloth. Measures: 39 x 59 1/2 inches (99 ...

Gelede festivals honor the creative and dangerous power of women elders, female ancestors and goddesses known as "our mothers". The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lo...

Handsome set of four Ndebele Mapoto beaded aprons from South Africa. They are canvas backed and in awesome condition. We have not detected any loose beads...

Standing Akan Ghana female figure, early 20th century, Africa. Intense expression with large eyes. Female figure with one hand on her breast, representing p...

Vintage African Tuareg teapot Mauritania Mid-20th century Tuareg teapot from Mauritania, Africa, Western Sahara. Handcrafted of pewter, copper and brass ...

A very sweet small sized carved wood bird topped door lock from the Bambara people of Mali Africa. Originally would have had a horizontal sliding cross bar lock, now missing. Mount...

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...

19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical design with a lattice pattern. This type of bracelet was worn or used by the...

Hand dyed Yoruba (Nigeria) cloth from the Esie area, 1950s.

Grouping of Ceremonial coffee stands Ethiopia Early 20th century Wood Largest: 8" high x 6" diameter (20 x 15 cm) Smallest: 6.75" x 3.50" ( 17 x 9 cm) These little known Branc...

Vintage Korhogo handspun, handwoven and hand-painted cotton mud cloth by the women of the Korhoga Village who spin the cotton, while the men weave and sew the cloth...

Add a piece of African history to your home. This is large and evocative of ancient times and ceremonies. Weathered wood mask fragment, Bambara people, Mali, Africa, late 19th-early ...

Fine Painted Ibibio Polychrome Mask with Figure on Top, Nigeria Africa. Expressive small figure on top with one hand on top of head, other holding stom...

Sweet worn, polished and smoothed Kuba ceremonial serving platter with handle and incised Classic royal Kuba knot pattern on one side. Cra...

This stunning bronze golden-colored sculpture, crafted in Ethiopia, represents a Mursi woman, embodying Ethiopian craftsmanship's rich cultural heritage and artistic expression. The piece is striking and thought-provoking, featuring a meticulously sculpted bust with distinctive cultural elements. The sculpture pays homage to the Mursi women of Ethiopia, encapsulating their strength, resilience, and beauty. The sculpture presents a fascinating fusion of realism and abstraction, with finely detailed facial features and textured elements. The golden finish adds a regal quality, making it an eye-catching centerpiece in any collection. It showcases traditional craftsmanship with a modern interpretation, making it a rare and valuable piece of African art. Background and History Like many indigenous groups across Africa, Mursi women have played vital roles in shaping their societies. Ethiopian art...

African mask from Yaure tribe in Ivory Coast Circa 1950. Beautiful dark patina. Swedish private collection, from the 1980s then inherited within the family. Yaure tribe art is renow...

19th or early 20th century copper snake currency sculpture Zaire Africa Ngelima culture, Zaire, hand-forged, copper rod in an anthropomorphic styli...

For the Dagari people of Burkina Faso and Ghana, this highly stylized figure embodied the living spirit of a deceased ancestor. Tucked away from view in a secret alcove or shrine, th...

Time honored texture and form define this Senufo sculptural object. The abstract etchings were achieved through a process known as scarification. The artisan meticulously traced and ...

Starring Dolph Lundgren, Bridge of Dragons was a pulpy action/romance from the late 1990s. The film's international success is evident in this hand-pain...

Handwoven Bogolan mud cloth textile from Mali, Africa, Bambara. It is a handwoven tribal cotton fabric traditionally dyed with fermented mud. Woven Afr...

This is a verybrare example of a 19th century ritually used Zulu Knobkerrie. Carved from very dense wood and complete with wire binding demonstrating t...

Bamana old original pair Chi Wara headdress. Chi Wara (Antelope Headdress.) The dry savanna permits no more than a subsistence economy and the soil produces,...

Single African mask created by artist Bomber Bax. The mask dates back to the early 1900s and was subsequently processed and painted in late 2022 by the artist. The artist used spec...

Painted bark with traditional Kuba patterns. This is a dance outfit, the wearer would be masked.

Showing a crescent shaped headrest braced by flattened 'V' shaped supports rising from a cupped base, decorated overall with hand carved linear motifs and exhibiting an old rubbed su...

Giraffe by José Jerónimo single piece of art Iron sculpture with use of tools and other objects Signed Measures: 81 x 41 x 15 cm. Private collection.

Ashanti Bronze Ceremonial Offering Bowl with Mudfish and Adinkra Symbols Ghana Finely worked Ashanti ceremonial brass plate with hammered designs of a ...

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 ...

Exceptionally large copper currency piece from the Mbole people in Democratic Republic of Congo, in a large hollow hand hammered form. These were worn by women at the end of the 19th...

The famous painter, Marcel Gotène (Icon of the contemporary Bantu art) combines surrealistic impressions with modern tapisserie elements. Born in 1935 in Yaba, Republic of Kongo, di...

A single piece of solid mango wood, hand carved into a standing cone, circa 1960. Use it as door stoppers, or in a group for an eye-catching accent in any rustic or eclectic decor, i...

Gelede festivals honor the creative and dangerous power of women elders, female ancestors and goddesses known as "our mothers". The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lo...

A Nomoli is a carved stone figurine native to Sierra Leone and Liberia. They are usually made of soapstone, limestone, or granite. The carving depicts a woman in a dress and choker,...

Attributed to the Yoruba people of western Nigeria, this wooden headdress was worn during a masquerade known as egungun. A widespread Yoruba ritual, egungun performances honor a comm...

Large Dance or Votive Mask, carved wood with geometric decoration in blue, orange, and white Burkina Faso, circa 1910–1920 Height: 80 cm This large carved wooden mask, richly decora...

Pair of Bronze & Iron Ogboni Society staffs from the Yoruba People, Nigeria, early 20th century. Among the Yoruba, in southwestern Nigeria, there was and still is the Ogboni secret s...

This graceful sculpture of a long-necked bird is a headdress known as "a-Bamp," worn during ritual masquerades of Baga adolescents in Guinea. With strong themes of defiance, these ma...