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West African Artifacts

Framed Riga Gound from Nigeria With Tribal Motifs
Framed Riga Gound from Nigeria With Tribal Motifs

Framed Riga Gound from Nigeria With Tribal Motifs

Located in Jimbaran, Bali

One day in the early 1990s a Nigerian gentleman came to the store with the hopes of selling some artifacts from West Africa. He was in fact wearing this very Riga Gound, (now framed).

Category

Vintage 1980s Nigerian Folk Art Paintings and Screens

Materials

Cotton, Silk

Recent Sales

Bronze Leopard Sculpture from Benin, West Africa
Bronze Leopard Sculpture from Benin, West Africa

Bronze Leopard Sculpture from Benin, West Africa

Located in New York, NY

A highly detailed cast bronze sculpture of a leopard from the Yoruba people of Benin, West Africa. A gorgeous artifact with great presence.

Category

20th Century Beninese Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

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West African Artifacts For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of west African artifacts for sale on 1stDibs. The range of distinct west African artifacts — often made from wood, metal and bronze — can elevate any home. West African artifacts have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. West African artifacts made by Arts and Crafts designers — as well as those associated with folk art — are very popular at 1stDibs. Tafadzwa Mandala produced beautiful west African artifacts that are worth considering.

How Much are West African Artifacts?

Prices for west African artifacts can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, west African artifacts begin at $1,250 and can go as high as $9,500, while the average can fetch as much as $3,000.

Finding the Right Folk-art for You

Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.

American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of folk art on 1stDibs.