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Creator: Unknown
Mother and Child Figure. Kwere, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
This finely carved figure with a prominent sweeping hairstyle sits upright with her knees bent and holding out her child in a forward position. The surface of the figure is smooth an...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Fine Headrest. Karamojong, Uganda
Located in London, GB
A beautifully formed headrest from the Karamojong in Northern Uganda.
Estimated Period: Mid-20th Century (Or Before)
Ex Private Collection, UK
Category
Mid-20th Century Ugandan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Fine Konso Ancestral Figure, Ethiopia
Located in London, GB
This large figure, with a beautifully eroded surface, is a memorialisation in wood of a male Konso ancestor. Ancestral figures such as this (named 'waaka' or 'waaga') memorialise 'xh...
Category
Early 20th Century Ethiopian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Peruvian Hand Woven Weaving Pillows / Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These two hand woven lambs wool pillows have camels on the front and cotton backings. They are booth different patterns and colors.
Measures: 19 x 36 x 9 large pillow
1...
Category
20th Century American Country Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wool
1930's Beaded Snuff Container. Zulu, Southern Africa
Located in London, GB
This intimately-sized 1930's Zulu snuff container has been beautifully decorated with glass beads. A circular opening features on one side, and on the other side, overlapping blue-an...
Category
1930s South African Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood, Beads
Fine Bronze Pendant. Gan, Burkina Faso
Located in London, GB
This crescent-shaped bronze pendant, features a central abstract figure. Below the figure, two stylised small birds perch in the middle of the pendant. Throughout, the surface of the...
Category
Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Fine Early 20th Century Chokwe Mask (Ex Afrika Museum Collection)
Located in London, GB
This early twentieth-century mask, from the Chokwe culture in Angola, displays unusual features. Carved from a light wood and decorated with yellow pigments, this fine mask exhibits ...
Category
1940s Angolan Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Koulango Female Ancestral Statue, Ivory Coast, Early 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
The hard wood of this female Koulango statue, from the Ivory Coast in the early 20th century, has developed a beautiful black patina. With hands resting on the abdomen, and the neck ...
Category
Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Mid-Twentieth Century Headrest in Animal-Like Form
Located in London, GB
This large mid-twentieth century headrest, carved from a single piece of wood, comes from the Dinka culture in South Sudan. With multiple upright supports, the headrest displays a wo...
Category
Mid-20th Century South Sudanese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Finely Carved Tanzanian Chieftain's Stool
Located in London, GB
This beautifully carved title stool, from the Gogo culture in Tanzania, features a wonderful looped and adjoining structure. Dating back to the mid-twentieth century, this fine examp...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Woven Floral Vintage Textile
Located in San Diego, CA
Textile Art
This is a beautiful remnant of a vintage floral textile. The design is woven on lightweight cotton and runs lengthwise as in the fi...
Category
20th Century Unknown Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Cotton
19th Century Igbo Spiral Copper Alloy Arm Adornment/Currency, Nigeria
Located in London, GB
Cast into a beautiful coiled form, this copper alloy Igbo woman's arm adornment from Nigeria was also used as a form of currency. This 19th century piece has developed a lovely green...
Category
19th Century Nigerian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Copper
Early 20th Century Reclining Lobi Backrest With Two Legs
Located in London, GB
With a low seat supported by two splayed legs, this Lobi backrest from Burkina Faso exhibits a wonderful form with a long, reclining back support. Throughout, the surface of the piec...
Category
Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Navy Framed Mud Cloth or Kuba Cloth in Floating Acrylic Frame Gold Standoffs
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Navy blue Kuba cloth or Mud cloth framed in acrylic with gold standoffs. Beautiful dark navy blue mud-cloth sandwiched between two pieces of custom acrylic. Four holes on the four co...
Category
1950s Nigerian Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Lucite
19th Century Akan 'Cast From Life' Beetle Gold Weight, Ghana
Located in London, GB
Every detail and feature of the beetle has been finely preserved in bronze, from its tiny claws to the pattern of striations on the insect's shell. Having been 'cast from life' by an Akan gold...
Category
19th Century Ghanaian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Fine Traditional Doll. Nyamwezi, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
The body consisting of a gourd in a beautiful form and decorated with a simple contrasting band of old glass beads of white, red and blue.
A piece with a wonderful form that was tra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
Bambara Granary Door Lock in the Form of a Crocodile, Mali
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century Bambara door lock from Mali has been carved into the form of a crocodile, a symbol of protection in the Bambara culture. The crocodile-shaped door lock, ad...
Category
Mid-20th Century Malian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
1960's Himba Head Adornment
Located in London, GB
The Himba of Northern Namibia are immediately recognisable by their distinctive hairstyles, which are determined by their age, gender and marital status. Both Himba men and women wea...
Category
1960s Namibian Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber, Beads
Small 19th Century Kamba Elder's Chair With Beaded Lizard Motif, Kenya
Located in London, GB
High-backed chairs of any form are rare in Kenya. This small elder’s chair, consisting of and a dome-shaped backrest, is supported by four legs.
The back ...
Category
19th Century Kenyan Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood, Beads
Wood and Bound Leather Headrest. Pokot Culture, Kenya
Located in London, GB
An early example of this form of Pokot headrest. Gently curved neck support with ridged underside, with two splayed legs bound heavily with fine strips of leather.
Estimated Period...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Beaded Neck Adornment and Apron. Pokot, Kenya
Located in London, GB
Among the Pokot, body adornments are visual signifiers of power, wealth and status within the community. Given as a gift to a new bride by her husband, this finely beaded neck adornm...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
Traditional Ethnic Woven Ajat Basket Borneo Indonesia
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handmade ethnic aged Borneo Ajat basket made from natural Rattan. Motifs of Burung Kenyalang / Hornbill Bird.
Traditional ethnic Borneo woven natural organic fiber rattan basket
A ...
Category
1950s Indonesian Folk Art Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Fine 19th/Early 20th Century Luba/Kusu Fetish Figure
Located in London, GB
This fine figure, from the Luba/Kusu culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, dates back to the early twentieth-century or before, to the nineteenth-century. The carved figur...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
African Urembo Beaded Vintage Necklace Choker by the Maasai Tribe Kenya
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage African Urembo beaded necklace choker.
Handmade in Kenya by the maasai tribe.
Urembo means “beauty” and the handmade pattern and unique ...
Category
Late 20th Century Kenyan Folk Art Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
A Knife With Asian Decorations & Original Handle From 1960s.
Located in Lejre, DK
This knife, featuring Asian decorations and an original handle, dates back to around the 1960s. It is a fine example of mid-20th century craftsmanship, combining both functional and...
Category
1960s Japanese Other Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Aluminum
Standing Iron Figure. Bambara, Mali
Located in London, GB
Ex Private Collection, Belgium
Estimated Period: First Half of 20th Century
Width of Iron Figure at Widest Point: 5.5cm
Depth (Incl. Stand): 5.5cm
Category
Early 20th Century Malian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
19th Century Bronze Gold Weight Depicting a Traditional Hunter. Akan, Ghana
Located in London, GB
This Akan gold weight depicts a traditional hunter, smoking a pipe. He is shown holding a knife, with a second knife secured in his belt. A musket is balanced over his shoulder, and ...
Category
19th Century Ghanaian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Kuba Ceremonial Palm Wine Cup ('Mbwoongntey'), DRC
Located in London, GB
The decorative details adorning this ceremonial cup reflected the owner’s wealth, status and influence within the Kuba Kingdom. This anthropomorphic Kuba cup ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Small Traditional Kwere Medicine Container, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century traditional medicine container from the Kwere culture in Tanzania has been finely carved into two sections.
The upper section tightly fits the body of th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Rare 19th Century Zulu Studded Knobkerrie, South Africa
Located in London, GB
The large, mushroom-shaped bulbous head of this rare 19th century Zulu knobkerrie from South Africa has been decorated with an array of early metal tac...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
Fine 19th Century Bronze Arm Adornment, Cameroon
Located in London, GB
This finely cast bronze late 19th century arm adornment from Cameroon is possibly Kirdi in origin. Displays a beautiful form, the adornment features a prominent central ridge, and ov...
Category
Late 19th Century Cameroonian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th Century Ethiopian Stool with Phallic Form
Located in London, GB
Finely carved from a single piece of wood, this stool from the Sidamo region of Ethiopia displays a wonderful sculptural quality. Four cone-shaped legs support the stool's slightly-c...
Category
Early 20th Century Ethiopian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Custom-Mounted Wide-Brimmed Woven Fibre Hat, Kasaï Region, DRC
Located in London, GB
This finely constructed and decorated grass fibre hat from the Kasaï region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was collected in the 1930's. This wide-brimmed hat was likely made...
Category
1930s Congolese Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Bamileke Mask With Attached Original Sotheby's Receipt from 1979, Cameroon
Located in London, GB
This fine and early Bamileke mask, carved from a heavy hardwood, features a vibrant expression. The surface of the mask exhibits a deep, well-worn patina...
Category
Early 20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Igbo Iron Spiral Currency (Manilla), Nigeria
Located in London, GB
This nineteenth-century spiral currency (Manilla), from the Igbo culture in Nigeria, is impressive in its size and exhibits a wonderfully exaggerated twisted, spiral form.
Spiral ir...
Category
19th Century Nigerian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
1940's - 1950's Pare Maternity Figure, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
This finely carved mid-twentieth century figurative sculpture, from the Pare culture in Tanzania, depicts a female with large, prominent ears. Standing in a proud, upright stance, sh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Finely Woven Tutsi Grass Fibre Screen ('Inyeqamo'), Rwanda
Located in London, GB
Rare to find, screens such as this would have been rolled down to separate the sleeping area and alcove in a traditional Tutsi household. The weaving, made from fine strands of grass...
Category
Mid-20th Century Rwandan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Swazi Headrest With Old Label Attached, Southern Africa
Located in London, GB
The form of this Swazi headrest consists of an upper section supported by two tapering legs, fluted with vertical grooves.
A central lug features on the underside of the headrest, ...
Category
20th Century South African Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola
Located in London, GB
Resembling the upturned beak of a bird, the shape of this early twentieth-century title staff from the Chokwe culture in Angola exhibits a beautiful, simplistic form. A series of not...
Category
Early 20th Century Angolan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Mumuye Iron Currency, Nigeria
Located in London, GB
This tall, elegant iron currency, from the Mumuye culture in Nigeria, dates back to the nineteenth-century. The currency displays a long, spoon-shaped form, with attractive spiral fe...
Category
Late 19th Century Nigerian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
1930's Woven Bark Fibre Panel
Located in London, GB
This 1930's panel, from the Mbole culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been woven from bark fibre. Dark-coloured strands of fibre, dyed with the roots of a banana tre...
Category
1930s Congolese Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Pair of 'Reunited' 1930's Bamileke Anthropomorphic Flutes, Cameroon
Located in London, GB
Together, these two finely carved flutes display a wonderful interplay of the abstracted forms of a 'male' and 'female' figure. A strip of snake skin has been wrapped around the 'bo...
Category
Early 20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Early Twentieth-Century African Madonna
Located in London, GB
This early twentieth-century African Madonna figurative sculpture from the Makonde culture in southern Tanzania, close to the border of Mozambique, exhibits a wonderful sense of move...
Category
Early 20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
1930's - 1940's Woven Beer Pot Cover, Cameroon
Located in London, GB
Beautifully decorated covers such as this were traditionally placed over large earthen vessels of local brew, with the intricacy of their designs reflecting the significance of the v...
Category
20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber, Beads
Fine Female 'Biteki' Figure (Ex Romy Rey Collection)
Located in London, GB
This beautifully carved 'Biteki' figure, from the Yaka culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, depicts a female crowned with a large, abstracted coiffure. The figure exhibit...
Category
20th Century Congolese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Ethiopian Saddle-Shaped Stool
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
19th Century Ethiopian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
1940's - 1950's Zulu Milk Pail ('Ithunga'), South Africa
Located in London, GB
This early-twentieth-century tall, narrow vessel, from the Zulu culture in South Africa, would have traditionally served as a milk pail.
Known as an 'ithunga', the vessel exhibits ...
Category
Early 20th Century South African Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Female Figure. Lwena/Chokwe, Angola-Zambia
Located in London, GB
This early twentieth-century figurative sculpture, from the Lwena/Chokwe culture in the Angola-Zambia Border Region, depicts a female standing in an upright stance.
A defining char...
Category
Early 20th Century Angolan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Low Reclining Ethiopian Chair
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
19th Century Ethiopian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Rare Form of Beaded Doll, Kenyan Coastal Region
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century beaded doll, which likely originates from the Kenyan Coastal Region around Mombasa, exhibits a rare form with a wonderfully simp...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood, Beads
Early 20th Century Shona Female Caryatid Stool, Zimbabwe
Located in London, GB
Supporting the flat, circular seat of this early twentieth-century stool from the Shona culture in Zimbabwe is a figurative sculpture of a sturdy-bodied female. The figure is depicte...
Category
Early 20th Century Zimbabwean Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Early Twentieth-Century Tanzanian Village Stool
Located in London, GB
The form of this finely carved early twentieth-century village stool, from the Hehe culture in Tanzania, consists of four short, upright legs supporting a dish-shaped seat. A small d...
Category
Early 20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Pre-1940's Kete Mask With Powerful Expression, D.R.C. (Ex Penn Kent Collection)
Located in London, GB
This striking early twentieth-century mask, from the Kete culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, previously belonged to the private collection of Penn Kent, the former Dire...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
Fine Early 20th Century Bongo Ancestral Post
Located in London, GB
This fine early twentieth-century ancestral post, from the Bongo culture in South Sudan, takes the form of a tall, multiple-ringed column. Carved from a hard wood, the post exhibits ...
Category
Early 20th Century South Sudanese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Fine Mid-Twentieth Century Mother and Child Figure
Located in London, GB
This beautiful mid-twentieth century figurative sculpture depicts a mother, crowned with a sweeping double-parted coiffure, holding her child at her side. Multiple strands of glass b...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood, Beads
Small Kamba Prestige Stool With Copper and Brass Wirework Decoration, Kenya
Located in London, GB
This early twentieth-century prestige stool comes from the Kamba culture in Kenya. Consisting of a low-set, richly decorated circular seat supported by three finely carved legs, sto...
Category
Early 20th Century Kenyan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Brass, Copper
Mid-Twentieth Century Tall Female Figure With Bead Decoration
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century figurative sculpture, which comes from the Kwere culture in Tanzania, depicts a female standing in an upright stance, with her hands placed by her sides.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
African Currency, Thoung Knife
Located in Dallas, TX
Most forms were developed from traditional metal objects that were already in use such as weapons, tools, bracelets and anklets. While some continued to be functional for work or dec...
Category
15th Century and Earlier African Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
Unknown tribal art for sale on 1stDibs.
Unknown tribal art are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Unknown tribal art, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original tribal art by Unknown were created in the folk art style in africa during the 20th century. Prices for Unknown tribal art can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $150 and can go as high as $24,458, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,600.
Questions About Unknown Tribal Art
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 9, 2024Yes, paintings by unknown artists may be worth something in some cases. When a painting’s maker isn't a well-known artist or is completely anonymous, factors like the visual appeal, historical significance, previous ownership and condition will determine the value of a painting. A certified appraiser or experienced art dealer can evaluate your piece using these criteria and provide you with an estimated value for your art. Shop a wide range of paintings on 1stDibs.