African Decorative Objects

Introducing the Hand-Painted Design Vase by Senzo Duma Ceramic Arts, directly from South Africa. Handcrafted by Senzo Duma and painted by Zinhle Nene, this 8-inch vase features intri...

Contemporary Moroccan free form shaped onyx bowl. Grey and taupe in color. From a large collection of different shapes, sizes and colors.

Introducing the Ardmore Ceramics Hand-Painted Ceramic Urn, a stunning piece of art that seamlessly blends craftsmanship and creativity. This magnificent urn, standing at an impressiv...

Ceremonial comb, Luba People, Zaire, D. R. Congo Made of palm leaf midribs, this large, graphic comb has a pinched waist and is held together with finely wrapped wire. Presented o...

- Handbuilt freckles terracotta jar - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - made in the Moroccan Rif mountains by the potter Raja. Approximate measurements: 8...

A Moroccan smaller-sized carved wood door from the late 19th century on custom stand. This antique door from Morocco has a wonderfully rustic appearance, with hand-carved accents and...

Pair of very decorative brown and green handcrafted Moroccan ceramic vases from Fez with two handles hand-graved with green Arabic Art writing ca...

- Hand built decorative horse sculpture - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - decorative motifs painted with a goat hair brush made by the potter to apply natu...

Large Moroccan Mamounia glass lantern with Moorish design. Elegant Impressive intricate pierced metal and glass Moroccan lantern. Large 29 inches tall with clear, blue, green, red an...

Beautiful 20th century copper African currency. Set on a modern black stand 5" x 5". Andrianna Shamaris. The Leader In Modern Organic Design.

All our TOTEM sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, th...

Moroccan Moorish metal candle lantern with open metal work Moorish design. Hurricane candle lamp handcrafted in Morocco by artisans, metal handcut and ...

A beautiful Decorative Cameroon headdress with the inside lined with colorful fabric and the outside decorated with porcupine spikes.

Jan Ernst is a multidisciplinary designer specializing in functional art and spatial design using clay as his main medium. The work is driven by his fascination with natural structur...

This luminous large 100% natural untreated cluster of hefty, beautifully terminated and naturally lustrous citrine points from the DRC features the incredible deep amber hue sought a...

Great and unique shape carved malachite stone ashtray or vide poche. Imposing item, stunning color and pattern which makes it unique. Natural malachite sculpture. Some are called vide poche or ashtray dresser caddy...

A pair of monumental limestone sphinxes of Pharaoh Nectanebo I, from the processional avenue of the Serapeum of Memphis, 30th Dynasty, circa 379 - 360 BC. The sphinxes of the Serapeum have captivated travellers since Roman times. However, despite their significance, they are conspicuously absent from the collections of most major museums. Indeed, their existence in private hands is so improbable, and their imitations so numerous, that the present sphinxes were assumed to be modern copies throughout their recent ownership history. Finally recognised and conserved after an extraordinary chance discovery at a garden furniture sale...

Bamana Mask on a custom ebony wood stand.

Old and decorative hand carved wooden bowl / mortar produced in Africa early 1900s. In good original condition. Dimensions: H: 40 cm / 15.75" Diameter: 34 cm / 13.40"

The Giraffe Bowl from Ardmore Ceramics, a masterpiece crafted in South Africa. Standing 7 inches tall, 15 inches long, and 16 inches wide, this ceramic ar...

Introducing the Giraffe Vase by Ardmore Ceramics – a magnificent fusion of art and functionality. This large ceramic vase, hand-sculpted by the talented V...

Creel and Gow Wicker (Rattan) pedestal with Urn. Made exclusively for Creel and Gow in Tangier Morocco.

These four exquisite canopic jars, meticulously crafted from limestone, stand as guardians of secrets and pathways to eternity. Their purpose transcends mere mortuary vessels; they a...

Malachite Lion sculpture or paperweight. Africa 20th Century, Green Color.

A complete prehistoric Cleoniceras opalised iridescent ammonite fossil, originating from Madagascar, presented on an exclusive museum-quality painted plaster base. Over 200 million y...

1970s Wood Carved Stool with Geometric Decorations

Fine quality Antique Silver articulated fish Hallmarked A very fine quality Articulated silver fish model Expertly crafted with beautifully detailed silver workmanship, Hallmarked...

This is a fantastic piece likely made by the Mangetu tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is finely detailed and quite large and hefty. These pieces were originally made...

19th Century Moroccan Vessel Discover the enchanting beauty of Moroccan craftsmanship with this exquisite mid-19th-century vessel. A testament to the rich history and artistry of ...

Hand-Carved Wood 'Luba' Fertility Statue. Democratic Republic of the Congo, circa 1970.

A complete prehistoric polished jigsaw ammonite fossil, originating from Madagascar, presented on an exclusive museum-quality painted plaster base. A natural historical artefact, pre...

This substantially sized sphere of AAA-quality malachite with gorgeous color and natural patterns including a plethora of beautifully defined bullseyes comes from the DRC and has bee...

Vintage Moroccan perfume bottle: a rosewater sprinkler hand crafted most likely in Marrakech. These bottles are all one-of-a-kind, made in an ar...

Vintage decorative Moroccan Red Glass Perfume Bottle Sprinkler with Embossed Metal Overlay. Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish red painted glass perfume bottle or rose water sprinkler with...

Adorned with spiked braids, this prestigious custom mounted Ashetu hat embodies the cultural significance of the Bamum and Bamileke people of Cameroon, Central Africa, who revered th...

Introducing the exquisite Ceramic Parrot Tureen, a masterpiece crafted by the skilled hands of Senzo Duma Ceramics in the heart of South Africa. This unique creation not only serves...

Introducing the magnificent Ceramic Leopard Urn, a masterpiece born from the skilled hands of Senzo Duma Ceramics in the heart of South Africa. Crafted with meticulous attention to ...

Exceptionally Fine Wooden Sarcophagus Mask Third Intermediate Period, 21st Dynasty, circa 1069-945 BC. Acacia wood, rosewood, hippopotamus ivory Masterfully carved from a single piece of fine-grained hardwood, the present mask is characteristic of the most exquisite funerary art made during the 21st Dynasty, and was probably commissioned for a particularly high-ranking individual. The oval face displays a gently smiling mouth with full, outlined lips, furrows at the corners and a bow-shaped philtrum. The straight nose with rounded nostrils, the cheeks full and fleshy and the large, almond shaped eyes with heavy lids and tapering cosmetic lines, set below long, sweeping eyebrows. Social collapse across the Mediterranean in the Late Bronze Age meant that the 21st Dynasty in Egypt was a period of great turmoil. Trade routes were disrupted, governments collapsed, and mass migration occurred. Economic scarcity meant that traditional funerary practices in Egypt were also affected, with a lack of material and financial resources leading to the reuse of preexisting material. As a result, during the 21st Dynasty, 19th and 20th Dynasty coffins changed ownership rapidly and were heavily recycled for new purposes. Tombs were also unmarked allowing them to be shared by many people. These new practices brought forth a shift in the understanding of funerary paraphernalia. No longer important objects owned forever by the deceased, they were now simply seen as short-term transformative devices, whose symbolic and ritualistic meaning could be appropriated for others. However, paradoxically, the art of coffin-making also reached new heights during this period, and many of the richly dec- orated “yellow” coffins, characteristic of the 21st Dynasty, are remarkable works of art in their own right. Indeed, knowing that coffins were being reused throughout Egypt, the Egyptian élite set themself apart by commissioning lavish sarcophagi decorated with the images and texts meant to help guide them to the afterlife, and which would otherwise have adorned the tomb walls. As coffins were the chief funerary element which now identified the dead and allowed them a physical presence in the world of the living, their quality and appearance were of the utmost importance. The traditional coffin ensemble was made of three parts: a wooden mummy cover, which laid directly atop the mummy, an inner coffin, and an outer coffin, both made of a lid and case. Additional decorative elements, such as masks, were carved out separately and later glued or pegged to the lids. After the completion of the painted decoration, the sarcophagus was covered in a varnish to give it its yellow colour. Gilding was sometimes used for the coffins of the high priests’ families, notably on parts representing naked skin, such as the face mask. However, some of the élite tactically avoided gilding altogether as to ensure that their coffin would not be looted. When manufacturing the inner and outer coffins, particular attention was paid to the woodwork. Displaying the skill of the carpenter, this type of funerary art has largely remained unparalleled throughout Egyptian history. The principal wood used to craft the present mask is Acacia nilotica. The evergreen Egyptian acacia was considered sacred and said to be the tree of life, the birthplace of the god Horus, as well as symbolic of Osiris, the god of the dead and resurrection. The modelling of the face in the wood is superb, but the inlays also help mark this mask out as exceptional. Inlaid eyes and eyebrows were extremely rare and reserved to the finest and most expensive coffins. Traditionally, eyes were made of calcite, obsidian, or quartz, and eyebrows of coloured glass paste or bronze. Here, the pupils, eyebrows, and cosmetic lines are inlaid with Dalbergia melanoxylon, a rare type of wood which belongs to the rosewood genus. In antiquity, however, it was known as Ebony of the Pharaohs, from the Egyptian word “hbny”, meaning dark timber, because of its black, lustrous appearance. An extremely dense and hard wood requiring significant skill to work with, ebony was a luxury material highly coveted by the pharaohs themselves, to make furniture, decorative and funerary objects. The wood was imported with great effort from the southern Land of Punt, most likely modern Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea, alongside other luxury goods such as gold and ivory. A magnificent ebony throne, recovered in the tomb of King Tutankhamun, illustrates the incredible aesthetic potential of this material and why it was so highly valued by Egyptian royalty. Only élite members of Egyptian society could have afford- ed Ebony of the Pharaoh inlays for their funerary mask. The sclerae on the present piece were once both inlaid with hippopotamus ivory. Whiter than elephant ivory, this type of ivory is also denser, and more difficult to carve. The use of this luxury material, reputed for its gleaming appearance, enhances the lifelikeness of the eyes. For the Egyptians, hippopotamus ivory was imbued with magic powers. The hippopotamus was indeed both feared and venerated due to its aggressive behaviour. Whilst the male hippopotamus was associated with danger and chaos, the female was benevolent and invoked for protection, especially of the house and of mothers and their children, through the hippopotamus goddess Tawaret. Thus, not only was hippopotamus ivory used as an inlay and to make practical objects, such as combs and clappers, but it was also used to make talismans like apotropaic wands or knives. Made during a time of scarcity where few could afford made-to-order coffins, the present mask could have only belonged to one of the highest-ranking individuals in society. Undoubtedly one of the finest Egyptian coffin...

Whimsical soapstone red elephant beautiful piece good luck , charm nice clean condition minimalist piece a great piece for Post modern , Danish Modern Home decor.

A large botryoidal green malachite specimen from Kolwezi, Congo, presented on an exclusive museum-quality painted plaster display plinth. Named for its distinctive form resembling a...

Ashanti cast bronze ceremonial staff top in the shape of a hoe with 3 cast turtles, from Ghana. It is in good condition with a deep patina and polish from traditional use, appropria...

These exquisite Neolithic bracelets from Mali are a captivating testament to ancient craftsmanship and ingenuity. Carved from limestone with natural crystalline veins coursing throug...

This basket is made of natural elements and traditional fibers sourced from nature and assembled together by skilled weavers, using the extract of dyes obtained from natural sources ...

This unique Madagascan Blue Celestite Cluster exhibits large, gem crystals of remarkable quality, featuring prism faces and sharp chisel-terminations - surpassing the average blue-gr...

This unique Madagascan Blue Celestite Cluster exhibits large, gem crystals of remarkable quality, featuring prism faces and sharp chisel-terminations - surpassing the average blue-gr...

This unique Madagascan Blue Celestite Cluster exhibits large, gem crystals of remarkable quality, featuring prism faces and sharp chisel-terminations - surpassing the average blue-gr...

Introducing the magnificent Giraffe Urns by Senzo Duma Ceramics, a breathtaking testament to African craftsmanship, meticulously hand-painted and hand-sculpted in South Africa. Craf...

Fine Kuba wood cup with incised textile designs, early 20th century, from Central Africa. The woven cris cross designs that are typical of the Kuba currency...

From Tafelkop, Goboboseb Mountains, Brandberg Mountain, Erongo, Namibia Lustrous 7" tall transparent deep-purple amethyst quartz crystals on brown-white matrix. The amethyst crystal...

From N'Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Rich specimen of Transparent pink rhodochrosite crystals with sugar-like microcrystals on the s...

From N'Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Rich specimen of translucent red rhombohedral rhodochrosite crystals on black manganite matrix....

Early carved wood antelope mask, with many horns, applied glass mirrors, cowries and seeds. Old native repair to one horn. It is in good condition wear and erosion from tradition...

Introducing the stunning Leopard Tureen by Wiseman Ceramics, a true masterpiece of African craftsmanship, meticulously hand-painted and hand-sculpted in South Africa. Designed by Wi...

Introducing the exquisite Monkey Jewelry Box by Senzo Duma Ceramics, a stunning fusion of African artistry and functionality, meticulously hand-painted and hand-sculpted in South Afr...

Introducing the exquisite White Lions Tureen, part of the Timbavati collection by Wiseman Ceramics—a stunning fusion of African artistry and storytelling, meticulously hand-painted a...

Introducing the captivating Leopard Vase by Senzo Duma Ceramics, a stunning testament to African artistry, meticulously hand-painted and hand-sculpted in South Africa. Crafted with ...

Introducing the captivating Leopard Vase by Senzo Duma Ceramics, a stunning testament to African artistry, meticulously hand-painted and hand-sculpted in South Africa. Crafted with ...

Introducing the captivating Lion Jug by Senzo Duma Ceramics, a true masterpiece of African artistry, meticulously hand-painted and hand-sculpted in South Afri...