Nigerian Folk Art

Vintage Nupe of Nigeria thinly cast hollow bronze purse or container, probably created by the lost wax process with attached bronze bells and rings. Hollow with fine overlaid designs...

Good of female Yoruba Ibeji Figures Finely carved in dense wood with linear decoration to the body Nigeria Period Early 20th century Size: 27 and 25 cm Condition: Good Fine...

This wooden headdress was created by the Yoruba People of western Nigeria, and was worn during a masquerade known as egungun. A widespread Yoruba ritual, egungun performances honor a...

A pair of Ibeji figures from lIorin region Nigeria A male and female pair with purple brown patination and encrusted with cam wood powder Fine carvings from early 20th century Siz...

Adire “Oniko” Cloth with spiral pattern Yoruba People, Nigeria Circa 1970s Two panel cotton, Shibori technique, Indigo Dyed 71 3/4 x 48 1/2 inches

Yoruba people have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, twin children are regarded as extraordinary, divine beings protected by Sango, the deity of ...

African tribal art. Fine old male and female pair of Yoruba Ibeji Figures from the Igbuke carving workshop in Oyo. Igbuke was a known carver of Ibeji figures and this style is attri...

Set of Three Cast Bronze Disc Top Hairpins Mangbetu, Democratic Republic of Congo Africa. A finely crafted cast bronze set of hairpins, of the style similar to those carved in ivory...

Early 20th-century brass or copper alloy with higher nickel content. Bracelet in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Turned design with rectangular shapes and carved swirling patterns...

An exquisite Benin bronze sculpture in shape of a bell depicting an Oba. Oba translates to "ruler" in the Yoruba and Bini languages of contempor...

Early Yoruba offering bowl in the from of a male figure with a beard riding on horse back surrounded by four small attendants, finely carved with nice patina from native use. Probabl...

Ibedji Statuette – Yoruba Culture, Nigeria, circa 1930 (20th century) This pair of male Ibedji statuettes originates from the Yoruba tribe in West Africa, specifically Nigeria. Amon...

Late 19th or early 20th-century brass or copper alloy with higher nickel content. Bracelet in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Pierced design with rectangular shapes and carved swi...

Gelede festivals honor the creative and dangerous power of women elders, female ancestors and goddesses known as "our mothers". The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lo...

A superb Igbo Nigeria helmet mask 'Agbogho Mmuo" or Maiden Spirit. Worn as masqurades during funerals, cleansing rituals, harvest festivals, weddings and ...

Chamba, Nigeria, Africa Iron Early 20th century 14.5 x 7 in. / 37 x 18 cm Height on custom display stand: 16.5 in. / 42 cm Various models of these original currency bearers were...

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...

This early 20th-century Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn staff, meticulously crafted from wrought iron, features a prominent central bird surrounded by several stylized avian figures, symbolizing spi...

Janiform ceremonial headdress from the Ekoi, Ejagham people of the Cross River region of Southeastern Nigeria, circa early 20th century. The janus symbolism from the Cross River r...

West African hand beaded head dress crown from Yoruba, Nigeria. This artistic beautiful and functional art piece is covered with beads in turquoise, orange, green, yellow red, blue ...

Vintage West African Tunic with Geometric Design This vibrant West African tunic was likely made in either Cameroon (Bamum people) or Nigeria (Yoruba people). The indigenous cotton ...

This early 20th-century Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn staff, meticulously crafted from wrought iron, features a prominent central bird surrounded by several stylized avian figures, symbolizing spi...

The price is for an individual currency and includes the custom made stand. The shape of a Mfunte currency has a seemingly simple yet complex design. The forged iron surface was scratched in an end-to-end direction to create a visually interesting surface, a central raised vein to create two sections, and swelling was incorporated on the front at the straight end. The aging of the iron has further added to the texture and attractiveness of the design. Colonial coinage replaced Africa's traditional iron currencies...

Very early large Yoruba divination board, a classic form round board with face at top, figures, couples, snakes, cowrie shells and other items around the edge of the board. Heavy wood, early 20th century, Nigeria. Areas of erosion, old insect damage and wear in center from traditional use. Provenance: ex - Mereidi Singer Stoli collection, ex Lempertz Auction 2019 With small metal stand...

Early finely carved African Afikpo mask with stylized geometric abstract long face. From Nigeria close to the Cross River. From an old collection in the Southwest. Overall dimensi...

Carved wooden sculpture depicting a woman sacrificing, holding an offering bowl, Yoruba People, Nigeria, 1940s The lid with the bird can be removed. There is a small old chip on the...

A matched pair of Ogboni figures with finely modeled heads and abstracted bodies, with iron post at bottom of each. Each face with "x" scarification mark between eyes and elaborate ...

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...

West African hand beaded head dress crown from Yoruba, Nigeria. This artistic beautiful and functional art piece is covered with beads in ivory, red and black colors with faces bird...

Gelede festivals honor the creative and dangerous power of women elders, female ancestors and goddesses known as "our mothers". The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lo...

World-renowned for high-quality lost wax casting, the city of Benin in West Africa has been a leading producer of fine cast brass and bronze sculptures since as early as the 16th cen...

Stone mortar and pestle Nigeria 20th century Measures: Mortar: 21 x 15.5 x 2 in. / 53 x 39 x 5 cm Height on custom display stand: 26...

Fine early 20th Century hand spun indigo cotton and Trans-Sahara silk cloth.

Yoruba people have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, twin children are regarded as extraordinary, divine beings protected by Sango, the deity of ...

Tall hand-carved wooden oracle or divination tapper "Iroke Ifa" statue, showing a kneeling woman holding her breasts. Yoruba, Nigeria, circa 1930s. Yoruba belief specifies that each ...

Carved wooden kola nut holder, depicting a woman carrying a baby in a papoose and holding a bowl overhead, from Abeokuta, Nigeria, 1950s There is a small...

An impressive and seldom Nigerian large basket garment and cover, with dyed patterned band. Those baskets where used to preserve grains. Tall colorful handwoven lidded basket from ...

Late 19th century Igbo-Ukwu bronze statue from Nigeria. Cire perdue technique.

Pair of Bronze & Iron Ogboni Society staffs from the Yoruba People, Nigeria, early 20th century. Among the Yoruba, in southwestern Nigeria, there was and still is the Ogboni secret s...

Yoruba people have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, twin children are regarded as extraordinary, divine beings protected by Sango, the deity of ...

The Nupe people of Nigeria were touted as some of the finest ceramicists in Africa. Everyday objects, like this water vessel, received detailed attention. The vessel's varied texture...

Hand-carved Opon Igede Ifa or divination bowl, Yoruba People, Nigeria, early 20th Century. A Babalawo ("diviner") of the West African Yoruba people uses an Opon Igede Ifa to store th...

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...

Attributed to the Yoruba people of western Nigeria, this wooden headdress was worn during a masquerade known as egungun. A widespread Yoruba ritual, egungun performances honor a comm...

This set of three early twentieth-century panels, from the Nupe culture in Nigeria, display a blend of beautiful decorative designs, carved in low relief against a plain background. ...

Gelede festivals honor the creative and dangerous power of women elders, female ancestors and goddesses known as "our mothers". The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lo...

Beautifully crafted dager from Nigeria (Haussa People) with an organic handle. Hausa people are frond in northwestern Nigeria and adjacent southern Ni...

An extraordinarily rare and fine Mambila suaga dog-head mask - Probably Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria /Cameroon, West Africa grasslands - Bronze, natural raffia fibers - Unknown age ...

Adire Eleko Woman's Wrapper Yoruba People Nigeria Circa 1960s-1970s Cotton) (2 panels), starch-resist and stencil dyed with indigo 74 x 67 3/4 ins (188 x 172 cm) "IRANA RDLEN " w...

Very beautiful mask with large pronounced eyes with the circular cavity shape. The mask depicts a nocturnal bird that can see in the darkness and manifest the presence of divinities ...

Carved wooden sculpture depicting a woman sacrificing holding an offering bowl, Yoruba People, Nigeria, 1940s There is a small old chip on the top, please refer to the photos. The numbers are the inventory numbers from Pennsylvania State University and Lehigh University. Exhibited: The Pennsylvania State University - Museum of Art permanent collection; The Lehigh University - Art Galleries permanent collection and the Provenance: The collection of Dr and Mrs. John E. Swanson. Dr John Swanson and his wife Marian lived from 1966 - 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria where Dr Swanson was the Advisor to the National Universities Commission and later on the Chief Planning Officer of the University Of Ibadan, Nigeria. During their time in Africa the Swansons started to collect African art. In 1973 a part of their collection, circa 120 pieces went on loan to The Pennsylvania State University Museum of Art, where they remained until 1978. In 1981 Dr Swanson passed away and his wife Marian never returned to Africa. In 1982 Mrs. Swanson lent 130 pieces to the Lehigh University Art Gallery where they remained until 1987. A few pieces were also lent to Lafayette College...

Yoruba People, Nigeria, 20th century Provenance: - Collection Rinck Hollnberger, Munich (purchased in the 1980s or 1990s)

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...

African tribal Art Antiques Female Ibeji figure Yoruba Nigeria A Finely carved  Ibeji Figure from early 20th century, with delineated teeth and l...

A framed Riga Gound from Nigeria. Elite Nigerian men wore grand, flowing garments known by various names: riga (Hausa), agbádá (Yorùbá), boubou (French), and mbubb (Wolof). This particular strip-woven riga features a off-white, very light grey tone with silk accents adding contrast. Skilled embroiderers—often trained in Arabic calligraphy—incorporated motifs once imbued with protective Islamic symbolism. Central to the textile is a leaf (gambiya) motif, linked to the Nupe people. A spiral design symbolizes the wearer’s spiritual journey toward God. The hem is lined with magenta silk, imported via trans-Saharan trade routes. Historically admired across cultures, the riga remains a cornerstone of pan-Nigerian male national dress today. This framed Riga Gound has a unique back story. Having owned a prominent antiques shop in Hong-Kong for more than two decades it was common for antique dealers to sometimes come to the shop and present items to sell...

Large Yoruba Ritual Shrine figure Abeokuta Nigeria African Tribal Art A rare exceptionally large male Cup bearer ritual shrine figure standing upright holding a cup in front carv...

African Yoruba Diviner's Red Beaded Wall Hanging Panel Sash 1950. This extraordinary beaded wall hanging is a stunning example of Yoruba craftsmanshi...

Nok Terracotta Standing Dignitary Figure in Royal Pose. I-II Century AD. Certificate of Authenticity with TL Test and Passport from Europe. Museum Piece...

Matching rare pair of stocky male twin figures "Ibeji" from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Africa, created in the early 20th century. Dressed with matching glass bead necklace and bra...

Striking Bembe bearded male bust figure with hands on sides of projecting stomach and finely carved beard. Stacking square hair style on top of head and projecting element hair on b...