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19th Century Bwa Mask Burkina Faso Mounted on Custom Black Enamel Stand

19th Century

This Modernist ceramic sculptures depicts an abstracted and cubist human form sitting cross legged with his back bent forward and arms outstretched. The sculpture, realized by Jaru o...

This striking shield was realized in Papua New Guinea towards the end of the 19th century. The rectangular form in unfinished nubuck hued hardwood has been inscribed with white curvi...

This striking shield was realized in Papua New Guinea, circa 1960. The rectangular form in unfinished nubuck hued hardwood has been inscribed with white curvilinear and geometric pat...

This sophisticated sculpture was realized from lymed French oak circa 1950. The perimeter of the piece consists of a mosaic of rectilinear blocks, while the interior rectangular pane...

This sculpture, in the form of a silver electroplated egg with a white porcelain holder, represents esteemed Swiss artist Herbert Distel's most iconic form. He created a 22-ton egg d...

This stunning acrylic on birch/mahogany painting was realized by the celebrated American painter Jim DeFrance in the United States in 1987. It features ov...

This sculptural head is made in Haiti from mahogany wood. The wood has a worn, dark brown patina. The carving is somewhat minimalistic, thus giving a modern twist to a tribal gesture...

A large scale and beautifully carved wooden ceremonial mask from Cameroon. There are traces of colour and decoration to the surface and the mask has a magnificent patina giving it a wonderful presence as a sculptural object. The Batcham Mask or simply the Batcham originated in western Cameroon although its name refers to the place where it was first found: Batcham. This is a ceremonial mask from the Bamileke culture in the western Grasslands of Cameroon. This tall crest (76 cm in height) has clearly defined features, a powerful yet calm visage, sharply chiselled diamond and triangular furrows, and nearly perfect symmetry. Such painstaking craftsmanship underscores the sophistication and control of the sculptor in preparing this ceremonial piece. It shares the elements of Batcham masks including: The general morphology is built on two axes: a symmetrical vertical axis with chiseled furrows, stylized eyes, lips, nostrils, mouth and teeth; a horizontal axis presenting swollen cheeks, an ovular mouth showing multiple teeth, and triangular ears supported on a hollow cylindrical base. One interpretation is that the masks depict a hippopotamus emerging from watery depths, conveying nature’s power conferred to enthroned royalty. The Batcham mask represents the pi, or double animal of a great dignitary of the kingdom. It was used by a great dignitary of the Msop society who intervened only on rare occasions: during the funeral and enthronement of the king and the nine notables, and to perform the Royal Tso dance, elephant dance...

"Idgo Nigeria Female Standing" is a wooden statue with blue and white pigment created in Nigeria circa 1930. This figure stands up right with arms out slightly in front of her. A st...

An elegant African sculpture from the West African Baoulé or Baule people, depicting a young woman wearing a loincloth. Smooth black lightly worn patina.

A Songye Male Power Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the male figure resting on one knee, with openwork arms and hands resting by the abdomen which contains various charms a...

Within Nigeria's Benue River Valley region, such representations have been associated with a range of functions, including reinforcement of the status of male elders and used by heal...