Tribal Decorative Objects

A Batak architectural carved-wood house panel from Northern Sumatra (Sumatera Utara) in the Indonesian Malay archipelago. This vintage carved house fragment from the Batak peoples of...

A tall Ibibio wood mask from Nigeria, Africa, circa 20th century. The head mask was carved in with a frontal face with pierced eyes and a gapping mouth. On his head, a stylized hat ...

Crafted by a blacksmith of the Bambara people of West Africa, this iron lamp once illuminated nighttime rituals and mask performances. Burning Tulu oil made from tree nuts, the lamp ...

This antique terracotta cooking vessel originates from the town of Tata in central Morocco. Hand-modelled by Amazigh artisans, the piece is a two-part construction consisting of a sh...

While shield and spear were central to African combat, this iron example was most likely made to serve as a piece of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies were modeled after objects of inherent value, resulting in sculptural combinations of function and beauty. This large iron spear dates to the early 20th century and is attributed to the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Secured to a narrow handle of iron and wood, the flattened blade has an elegant, sloping silhouette, subtly textured with raised lines and a rusted, antique patina. Forged as a broadleaf spear, the weapon contrasts a violent potential with images of peaceful branches swaying in the wind. We've set this unusual Kuba spear...

Monumental carved Totem Sculpture by Claude Torricini (1930 - 2025). Torricini was born in 1930, France and pursued her artistic studies in Paris at the Cours Jullian and the Beaux-...

After the original Benin bronzes, this statue depicts a large standing leopard with an upturned tail and unusually long legs, from the mid-20th century made in the same casting metho...

This Piece is very primitive. Its a mid to early 20th century piece. Its carved from ironwood and depicts a family tree of a family from Tanzania. The carving is very detailed.

This Piece is very primitive. Its a mid to early 2oth century piece. Its carved from wood and has lots of character and patina.

Time honored texture and form define this Nigerian copper sculptural object. The intricate geometry was achieved through a process known as scarification. The artisan would meticulou...

To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...

On offer is a Lega Bwami society wooden mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was likely from the first half of the 20th century and an authentic in-field piece. The mask di...

Old family tree of the Makonde tribe, Tanzania, 1960s An ancient sculpture called “Family Tree” hand carved by an artist from the Makonde tribe living in Tanzania. The sculpture is m...

Buried with their flared mouths facing down, these cylindrical storage vessels protected the deceased's possessions as they transitioned to the afterl...

Receiving guidance from tribal ancestors was a central aspect of the Luba people's spiritual practices. This ceramic spiritually significant vessel is topped with a crossed leg figure whose head has an opening critical for a divination ritual. Known as an mboko, this handled vessel would have been filled with items like antelope horns, shells, dried beetles, human teeth...

This four-sided brass face bell, known as omo, was created by an artisan of the Ijebu Yoruba People of Southern Nigeria. A mark of the wearer's rank and power, the bell would have be...

Hand-carved and beautifully crafted natural Calabash gourd bowl, made by artisans in West Africa with gorgeous tribal geometric pattern. The calabash gourd ...

A pair of Kiakavo wooden clubs from the Fiji Islands on custom stands. These vintage tribal wood clubs, carved by stone, are a beautiful example of the dis...

The Nupe people of Nigeria were touted as some of the finest ceramicists in Africa. Everyday objects, like this elegant, cylindrical vessel support, received detailed attention. This flaring terra cotta form would have been buried halfway in the ground, in a Nupe home, and used as a stable base for a stack of traditional round pots...

Antique male statue hand carved from a single wood log from West Borneo. Originally used to protect the home from evil spirits. The wood base was placed into the ground in front of t...

This evocative Pre-Columbian style terracotta ritual figure captures the timeless spirit and symbolic power of ancient Mesoamerican artistry. Skillfully hand-formed from natural clay...

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...

A pair of Kiakavo wooden clubs from the Fijian Islands of Oceania on custom stands. These vintage tribal wood clubs, carved by stone, are a beautiful examp...

Very good cast of a Benin bonze head, probably mid 20th century From the Benin Tribe of Africa comes this beautiful bronze head

On offer is an Ashanti female fertility figure from Ghana, West Africa, circa Mid-20th century. Carved from a single block of wood, the statue depicts a female with typical coiffure ...

A large digging stick used for the ceremony of planting the first yams of the season circa first half of the 20th century, purportedly from the ex-collection of the Children's Museum...

In an exclusive collaboration with pagoda red, Chicago artist the bms. adds a contemporary twist to our collection of one-of-a-kind African art objects. Guided by its geometric line work, the bms. uses...

Ancient Terracotta Djenne Mali Africa This beautiful object has pure and slender lines that give it an ethnic-chic charm. But it is also a real old object steeped in history. This ...

Sometimes called a "Bura bell" due to its shape, this sculptural terra cotta object was part of the Bura tribe's burial ritual. Buried with its flared mouth facing down, this cylindrical storage...

Antique container from Borneo made from aged buffalo hide with a natural organic live edge rim. We discovered a beautiful patina after polishing. Great fo...

Before coinage became standardized across West and Central Africa, wealth was often held in iron. In parts of present-day northeastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon, highly forged th...

This rare and visually captivating multi-spouted terracotta vessel is a striking example of ritual-inspired pottery, blending sculptural artistry with historical influence. Elevated ...

A rare and unusually large nut shell, skillfully etched with elephant figures and objects. Despite extensive research, we have limited information on the origin and age of this piece. The etched detail suggests African origin...

Worn and weathered Tsogho short bench carved from a single piece of wood, with faces and figures, from Gabon, Africa. Blocky bench with roughly carved out openings, flanked on one s...

Antique container from Borneo made from aged buffalo hide with a natural organic rim. We discovered a beautiful patina after polishing. Great for holding ...

Antique container from Borneo made from aged buffalo hide with a natural organic live edge rim. We discovered a beautiful patina after polishing. Great fo...

A pair of Papua New Guinea yam festival masks from the mid 20th century. These vintage ceremonial masks, also referred to as a baba mask, originate from the Abelam people, along the ...

Blacked wood helmet mask (Gelede), large human head surmounted by a dog eating a snake which curves around the head. No perforation for attachment to costu...

Hand carved Maori sculpture of a hunter carrying a crocodile and fish.

Terracotta, 14th-15th century (thermoluminescence test: Interexpert 388317 from March 18, 1988). Koma-Bulsa motifs (Ghana), including a concave hairstyle with braided frontal ornamen...

A Western Mongo tribal shield (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Carved hardwood with white pigement decoration. Now mounted on a patinated bronze Stand. A similar example can be...

Expressive, interesting African Baoulé mask from Cote d'Ivoire from last third of the last century, carved from wood painted polychrome. The face is narrow & elegant and has a though...

Bamana tribe art is known for masks, textiles and architectural elements. This Y-shaped post supported a heavy roof timber and acted as a welcoming symbol...

An Epa helmet mask, Nigeria, Africa. Fully carved mother and child; painted red and black with touches of white; Provenance: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis; The Eiteljorg Mu...

This nomadic object has been diverted from its original use. It is a unique genuine old piece with undeniable authentic charm. The signs of wear, scars and repairs testify to the ric...

The Afo Bridal Currency was used in Nigeria until the early 1940s. This is also known as a "Chenkrom." Now mounted on a bronze stand.

Stunning Mid to Late 20th Century South American Tribal gourd bowls with hand carved floral details, a pair. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new s...

This striking, large-scale terracotta storage jar captivates with its raw, elemental presence and authentic aged surface. Handcrafted with traditional techniques, its robust, rounded...

A striking example of West African material culture, this Igbo iron currency knife from Nigeria embodies the intersection of economy, artistry, and ritual within traditional African societies. Before the widespread adoption of coinage and paper money, many regions across Africa used forms of metal currency—objects whose intrinsic material value, craftsmanship, and symbolic form made them widely accepted as units of exchange. Among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, iron currency objects such as knives, rods, and bracelets circulated not only as mediums of trade but also as markers of wealth, social status, and ceremonial exchange. This particular form—often referred to as a currency knife—features an elegantly curved profile with a tapering blade-like extension and finely incised surface decoration. Forged and hand-carved from iron, the piece demonstrates the remarkable skill of traditional blacksmiths, whose work held both practical and spiritual significance in Igbo culture. The etched geometric motifs along the surface speak to a visual language of craftsmanship passed through generations, transforming what was once a utilitarian object into a sculptural artifact rich with cultural meaning. Mounted on a custom-made platform for display, the piece now reads as a refined sculptural object. Its weathered iron patina, subtle textural variations, and dynamic crescent silhouette give it a commanding presence—equally compelling as a collectible ethnographic artifact or as a distinctive decorative accent in a contemporary interior. Today, objects like this Igbo currency...

Lorrkon hollow log. Artist: Bronwyn Kelly. Year of birth: 1974. Nationality: Australian. Region: West Central Arnhem Land. Language group: Kuninjku. M...

African Togo / Benin Coast 20th Century carved and painted wood Mami Wata figure, in cylindrical form with an incised hair pattern, beckoning arms and coilin...

This is a pair of vintage African spear currencies from the Mbole peoples, Democratic Republic of Congo which are nicely presented upon custom m...

African Congo 20th-Century hand carved Teke male figure wrapped in a raffia burlap Good/Fair, showing patina including rubbing and variations to finish, soiling to fabric, hairlines...

Kananga masks form geometric patterns. These masks represent the first human beings and are normally made by carvers of the Awa society. The masks are worn during the Dama dancing ce...

Before the widespread adoption of coinage, many African societies developed sophisticated systems of exchange using forged metal objects as currency. These iron forms—used in marriag...

A terracotta jar from the island of Java, Indonesia with an elongated spout. Jugs such as these would have been used to store, water, oil and other liquids. The age related markings ...

This spice box comes for the Island of Nias, Indonesia. Dating to the early 20th Century it was crafted from a single block of wood. It features a sliding lid, has an elegant wood te...

This tribal panel originates from the Batak tribe of Sumatra. The Batak are known for the elaborate decoration of their buildings and these decorative panel additions would have been...

A pair of vintage Chinese winter boots on stand. This is a pair of Chinese leather winter boots that have been displayed on a custom black iron Stand. The boots are from the people b...

An elegant Benin Iron Striker Bell with a double spiral finial on the top, and a lovely bell-shaped body. This is an extremely fine example of the African blacksmiths artistry. Kingd...