Ethiopian Folk Art

Wood three legged chair with openwork geometric back, from the Gurage or Oromo people, Ethiopia, Vintage Africa Carved of a single piece of wood, this was a chair for an important p...

This amazing nineteenth-century Ethiopian bed, personally collected in Ethiopia in the 1990's, formally belonged to the collection of Tekalegn Besapa, in Addis Ababa. This type of be...

Late 19th Century Hide Shield, Amarro People, Ethiopia A shield from the Amarro people of Ethiopia, this is a more unusual type with raised bumps over the entire surface. The rolled...

Ethiopian Procession Cross: A Sacred Heritage and Craftsmanship. Structure and Composition: This finely crafted Ethiopian procession cross is rich in iconographic detail. Constructed from metal, likely bronze or brass, it features a complex structure with several decorative elements. - Central Part: • Madonna and Child: At the heart of the cross is a depiction of the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus. This central image is framed within a circle adorned with openwork motifs and small inlays that appear to be precious stones or colored glass pieces. Arms of the Cross: • Angelic Musicians: Each lateral arm of the cross features an angelic musician, playing instruments and depicted in a flying position. The angels are finely detailed, with spread wings and carefully sculpted garments. • Cherub: At the apex of the cross, a cherub is depicted, a celestial being with multiple wings and surrounded by cloud-like motifs. • Bird Motifs: The lower extremities of the cross are adorned with bird motifs, likely doves, symbolizing peace and the Holy Spirit, placed within openwork circles. Base and Handle: • Engraved Base: The base of the cross, which serves as a handle, is also richly engraved with floral and geometric motifs, providing a sturdy and decorative grip for processions. History of Ethiopian Procession Crosses Origins and Evolution: Ethiopian procession crosses have a long history, dating back to the introduction of Christianity to Ethiopia in the 4th century under King Ezana. Influenced by Coptic and Byzantine traditions, these crosses evolved to adopt a distinctive style unique to Ethiopia. - Characteristics: • Style and Iconography: Ethiopian crosses...

African shield Oromo from Ethiopia, early 20th century. Base 34 x 20cm.

This stool, from the Gurage culture of Ethiopia, has been carved from a single piece of heavy, dense wood. The stool exhibits a flat, low form and over time, has developed a lovely d...

Wabi sabi hand crafted stool. Made by the Oromo people of Ethiopia around the 1950s. Carved from a single piece of hardwood. Skillfully made and highly decorative. The top is made co...

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...

Carved from a single piece of dense, heavy wood, this nineteenth-century Gurage low-set chair from Ethiopia exhibits an unusual, rare form. Consisting of a circular double-tiered seat with an angled, reclining back-support, the chair exhibits a deep glossy surface patina, particularly on the back-support and seat as a result of use. The chair is functional, and is reasonably comfortable to sit on. ‍Estimated Period: 19th Century Ex Private Family Collection, Addis Ababa...

An old well used Ethiopian head rest with attached oxidized silver or white metal beads and dangles. It is in good condition with wear, polish and eros...

African Ethiopian painting imported to Italy by a diplomat during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, in the late 1930s. This tribal folk art painting depicts a battle scene and the canvas is mounted on a parallelogram-shaped frame. It is a large battle painting...

The Ethiopian Procession Cross: A Radiant Symbol of Faith, Guardian of Sacred Mysteries. Artistic and Historical Description This Ethiopian procession cross, of rare beauty, embodies a long tradition of Christian religious art...

So as not to muss their intricate hairstyles while sleeping, Ethiopian women would traditionally rest their heads on these petite wooden stands. The combination of conic base and con...

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...

An Ethiopian tribal shield on custom iron stand. This vintage shield, originating from Ethiopia, has an overall convexly rounded-shape, and is made of a rich brown animal hide with wonderful patina. The leather shield...

African shield Wallaïta from Ethiopia, early 20th century. Base: 40 x 17cm.

The painting captures the events of this battle: "Baratieri planned to execute an attack early morning 1st March Baratieri, to strike a surprise on the ethiopians, who outnumbered h...

Naive Ethiopian Painting Hospital scene, 1970s with Ge'ez language inscriptions.

Naive Ethiopian Genre painting, 1970s oil on canvas with Ge'ez language inscriptions.

Naive Ethiopian painting, The Greatest Scenes of Religion, Society and History. Oil on Canvas Measures: 100 x 190 cm s.b.r. with Ge'ez language ...

The upper two lines show Months of Year form September to February and March to August, below the scenes of life. with Ge'ez language inscriptions.

This late nineteenth-century headrest, from the Oromo culture in Ethiopia, displays a rare form. Above a triangular-shaped base, the curved, crescent-shaped neck rest features four c...

Dating to the late 19th century, this is a fine and rarer form of Ethiopian headrest with a double-tiered, cone-shaped base. Decorating the base ar...

This African piece was made by the oromo igbo people of ethiopia It is a gourd with weaved fiber and metal covering it with intricate design and patterns It has a lid with it which is usually not found It definately has age but not sure of its exact year This vessel is a lovely african artifact...

TOTEM 3 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...

TOTEM 1 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 h...

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...

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...

This stool is a beautiful example of an Arsi saddle-shaped stool from the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Finely carved into this form from dense, heavy brown wood, this stool has developed a lovely rich surface patina as a result of use over time. ‍Estimated Period: Late 19th/Early 20th Century Ex Private Collection, Addis Ababa...

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...

The Borana Oromo people of southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya are historically a cattle-keeping culture, and each household keeps a number of traditional vessels for storing and ch...

Mengistu Haile Mariam and other Generals looking at the celebrators oil on canvas painting, 90 x 190 cm with Ge'ez language inscriptions.

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...

Naive Ethiopian painting, Traffic in Addis Ababa, 1970s. with Ge'ez language inscriptions.