African Folk Art

Large openwork crest mounted upon a woven basketry cap. The large, square decorative panel bears a central reptilian or stylized crocodile depiction with alternating squared painted ...

Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan polychrome decorative ceramic Bowl, dish from Fez. Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and floral Moorish design...

Old Buyu male ancestral protection power figure showing good signs of genuine age w/ beautiful old color patina. Democratic Republic Congo, Africa. Mid 20th. Measures 32" h x 10" w x...

Amazing and scarce JUDAICA object, we have here one of the most touching jewish objects we had for a long time, this small silver dowry box was made in Algeria in the early 19th century, it is all covered with symbols of jewish faith and of couples, the sliding lid has 2 flanking birds with hamsa (protective hand) on each side and a flower vase in the middle. one side shows two flanking lions with a tree in the middle and the other side shows again two big and two small birds with a flower bowl in the middle, front side has a key hole and next to it there is the Hebrew inscription ס״ט״" which says Siman tov or in English "a good sign" it is taken from the wedding blessing, underneath the lock there is another inscription with the name ״עזיזה בת אברהם בן חמו״ which is the name of the bride, her father and her grandfathers name. the box is full marked a lot of times with the silversmith mark, every side of the box is marked. this box was probably ordered by the grooms family to hold the jewelry they are giving to the bride as dowry, this type of objects are rare and there are just a few of them on museum collections. DOWRY (Heb. נְדֻנְיָה), the property a wife brings to her husband at marriage; the Yiddish equivalent, nadn, is from the same root. The custom of nedunyah became clearly defined and institutionalized only in the talmudic period. In biblical times, mohar (מֹהַר), whereby the groom bought his wife from her father (Gen. 24:53; Ex. 22:15–16; Hos. 3:2), was the accepted practice. It was then customary that the groom give the bride gifts, and that she bring certain property to her husband's home upon marriage: slaves, cattle, real estate, etc. (cf. Gen. 24:59–61; 29; Judg. 1:14ff.; I Kings 9:16). Evidence of the custom of nedunyah is to be found in Tobit (7:14; 8:21) and in the Assuan papyri (Cowley, Aramaic, nos. 15, 18). Gradually, mohar was superseded by the ketubbah custom according to which the husband merely assumed the responsibility of compensation to his wife in case he divorced her: he had to pay her 200 zuzim if she had been a virgin at the time of marriage, and 100 zuzim if a widow or divorcée (see *Ketubbah). By talmudic times, the institution of nedunyah was prevalent; the father gave a dowry to the bride since the daughter was excluded from paternal inheritance. Fifty zuzim (equivalent to the worth of 180 grams of silver) was the minimum amount a father was obliged to give to his daughter (Ket. 6:5). Parents usually gave much more, according to their social standing. Community funds provided the dowry for an orphan or a very poor girl (ibid.; cf. Sh. Ar., YD 251:8). In case of her father's death, the brothers of a minor girl were obliged to give her the minimum dowry, and the court estimated how much her father would have given her above the minimum dowry. The sum was then taken out of the father's estate and given to the daughter upon majority (Ket. 6:6; 68a–69b). In the absence of such an estimate, each daughter was entitled to receive one-tenth of the value of her father's estate in money, or in valuables (Yad, Ishut, 20:4–7; Sh. Ar., EH 113:4). If the father was unable or unwilling to pay the promised dowry at the betrothal ceremony, the groom could refuse to marry his bride (Ket. 13:5; Ket. 108b–109a). Insistence on exact payment of the promised dowry, however, was frowned upon by later rabbinic authorities (Rema to Sh. Ar., EH 2:1). In certain communities it was customary for the groom's father to make a dowry contribution equal to that of the bride's father (Ket. 102b). The dowry, whether given in real estate, slaves, money, or chattel was recorded in the marriage contract (the ketubbah) and in some instances one-third or one-fifth of the actual value of the dowry was added to the sum mentioned in the ketubbah. Based upon a decree enacted by *Simeon b. Shetah (first century C.E.), the Talmud ruled that the husband and his entire property were liable for compensation as stipulated in the ketubbah, either in case he died (when she collected the sum specified in the ketubbah from the heirs) or in case he divorced his wife (Ket. 82b). For the status of the dowry and the husband's rights and obligations, see below. The rabbinic enactments (Takkanot Shum) by R. Jacob *Tam and by the rabbinic synod of the communities of Speyer, Worms, and Mainz (Germany) stipulated that if a woman died...

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

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...

This is a fine old piece of Royal Ewe Kente from arpund 1930. Kente textile is a Royal Textile of the Ewe people of Ghana . This piece would have been worn...

For sale at Art Gallery Decoster Belgium : Ancient and Exceptional Throwing Knife of the Gbaya people of South / Bumali / Njem Tribe : Gbaya / Njem / Bumali Region: Central African Republic...

Elegant vintage designer Moroccan white brocade kaftan, embroidered with Turkish gold threads design. This chic Bohemian white, gold and light turquois...

Early carved wood antelope mask, with many vertical horns, applied glass mirrors, cowries and seeds. Old native repair to one horn. It is in good con...

This early twentieth-century miniature ladder, from the Dogon culture in Mali, replicates the form of full-size granary ladder, however, unlike its larger, practical counterparts, th...

Rare mid century Lobi folk tribal art female figure wooden sculpture produced in Burkina Faso, Africa by anonymous designer in the 1940s. In good original condition. Dimensions: H:...

Pair of African Tribal Art mask parchment wall shade sconces. These Art pieces could be used as large wall lamp shade. Iron frame covered with hide w...

Antique Bena Lulua Mask Late 1800s to Early 1900s – Democratic Republic of the Congo This striking primitive folk art mask hails from the Bena Lulua people of the Democratic Republi...

Sweet worn, polished and smoothed Kuba ceremonial serving platter with handle and incised Classic royal Kuba knot pattern on one side. Cra...

Coptic textile Byzantine Period; 4th–5th Century C.E.
Materials: linen, Wool 23 x 16 cm This fragment features black decorations on a beige background, depicting human figures with...

Small sweet early Kuba Cup with refinedf face, finely carved hair, with a handle, from the DRC, Africa Finely incised hair in tight geometric form, small proj...

Moroccan orientalist oil on canvas painting of a 19th century Moroccan rug market scene with an sellers seating on a pile of carpet and two other men wearing traditional colorful robes standing and checking the goods. The background depict an old house with wooden mucharabie and Moorish arches. Contemporary French oil on canvas orientalist painting of a Moroccan market...

A South African two handled carved wood meat tray Zulu, 20th century Measures: Approximate 3 1/4" in. high x 10 1/2" in. long x 8 1/2" in. wide (8.2 x...

This large animal sculpture is actually a traditional African slit drum, a percussive instrument commonly carved from a single block of wood. Comprised of a hollow resonance chamber ...

A rare Middle Atlas Berber rug from the Zemmour region, distinguished by the fact that it has pile on both sides- red in different gradations on the displayed side and orange in many...

WOMAN’S WRAPPER (BOGOLANFINI) Mali, Bamana people First half 20th century (probably made circa 1970) Cotton (hand-spun), strip weave; painting with mud and plant dyes These textil...

With its many blades and dramatic form, this impressive throwing knife would have been a status symbol and a form of currency among the Ngombe peoples o...

Powerful Scarified Makonde portrait helmet mask from Tanzania. Early 20th century with heavy dark patina from traditional tribal use, wear inside from being used. Finely carved featu...

Tribal xylophone is an original design item realized in the early 20th Century. A rare xylophone entirely realized in wood. Working. A unique decorative object and at the same ...

This is a fine piecevof Kente Textile from the Ewe people of the Volta region of Ghana. Woven from handspun cotton and natural dyes. This is a prestige cloth worn by a high ranking Elder of the Ewe people. The pattern denotes the individuals high status within the community with the dark blue background indicating the wisdom and knowledge of the owner. This piece will date from the 1930's and is in very fine condition. Ewe Kente...

Set of three vintage Zulu long wood pipes on custom metal stands, South Africa. Each on separate stand so can be arranged in multiple ways for great display...

Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan blue decorative ceramic Bowl, dish from Fez. Moroccan ceramic bowl in Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and flora...

Early standing Mumuye stylized figure with crested hair and open work details. Classic rounded cubist forms that the Mumuye sculptors are known for. Nort...

This is an exceptionally well-carved portrait bust of an African man dating to the mid-20th century. The bust is carved from a single piece of mahogany; th...

Small early Kuba Cup With Sweet Face, Fine Hair, Handle DRC, Africa Finely carved hair in tight geometric form, small projecting ears. Some damage and wear t...

This intricately-constructed colorful train was painstakingly created by Yoruba artisans in Nigeria in the mid-20th century. Recent designs such as this were based upon sashes that s...

Six Knobkerries from South Africa A group of six knobkerries from South Africa, mounted together on a wooden base. These were originally used as weapons during battle but have evolv...

African mask in hand painted wood, 20th century Angola.

African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...

Atypical form with a rich high patina. Professional mounted. Provenance: Weinberg Modern.

We present you an 19th century antique Nigerian high quality bronze GOLD PLATED bracelet currency traditionally used in monetary functions ...

O/5530 - Long curved axis for Tuareg tent, carved with geometric patterns : rare to find. For Your use: ask to an architect, but I have some idea, like ab...

Lovely Faceted Strawberry Shape Watermelon Tourmaline Drilled Carving From Africa WEIGHT: 14.50 Carat DIMENSIONS: 1.98 x 1.64 x 0.63 Cm ORIGIN: Madagascar, Africa Shape: Strawber...

Finely carved wooden bust of a striking tribeswoman figure carved from an exotic hardwood with a rich patina free standing. Dimensions Height 22 Inches Width 13 Inches Depth 17 Inches

Prestige open top basket Sukuma People (?) Tanzania Circa 1900 Coiled and woven basketry, natural fibers and dye 8 x 6 1/2 inches (21 x 16.5 cm) Provenance: ex private collection U...

Mid-20th century tribal beaded cache-sex modesty apron (Pikuran), Mandara Mountains, Cameroon These colorful cache-sex were worn for celebrations, rituals...

Tribal African Igbo Agbogo mwo mask This African Igbo mask, known as a "young girl", is decorated with a tangle of thick braids and fulfils the mos...

Carved wood Akuaba, sometimes known as an Ashanti doll or a Fanti doll. Untouched condition with a beautiful natural age-related patina. Akua'ba (sometim...

Moroccan tribal Berber wooden sugar hammer. Handcrafted by the Berber women of Morocco, hand-carved wood with tribal design, this folk art instrument is a...

Characterized by its open shape capped with geometric ends, this bracelet is but one form of the many types of body adornments favored the Fulani people of West Africa. The thick des...

Old Pende giwoyo mask with red pigments, black and white beard with carved triangles and woven black raffia hair cap The mask is 13 1/4 inches high, on custom...

Mukuba (Hat), Bwami Society, Lega Culture, Democratic Republic of Congo 1st Half 20th Century Plant fiber, buttons, elephant tail hair, blue cloth 7...

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...

Reminiscent of the Elemental sculpture of Constantin Brancusi, this Hardwood African Mortar and Pestle has a fantastic paper smooth age patin...

Moroccan Berber tribal bracelet Moroccan tribal bracelet, cuff from the high atlas of Morocco. Handcrafted by Berber women using Moroc...

African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These art pieces could be used as wall lamp shade. Ir...

A Powerful Baule Mask With rich dark ‘lacquered black’ patina, excellent colour with areas of ‘kaolin’ Wood Ivory Coast Early 20th Century Size: 32.5cm high - 12¾ ins high Prov...

Art Gallery Decoster presents a : 19th century exclusive antique African Ngbandi war shield A top quality / Museum quality extremely rare shield !!! Big sized high quality rare shiel...

This large, impressive nineteenth-century Ethiopian throne, from the Wollega Oromo culture, features a high, upright back-rest. An attractive cut-ou...

One of the largest African masks that we have seen, this Fang Secret Society mask is a full 66” high. Powerfully carved in traditional form with natural pigment paints made from Ochr...

Old Pende giwoyo mask with traces of yellow, black and red pigments and woven black raffia hair cap. Strong face with tight expression, weathered surface, goo...

1960s authentic vintage Moroccan tribal wedding rug with sequins North Africa, Handira.Rare large authentic Moroccan Bohemian style rug, handwoven by women...