North African Folk Art

Ancient Egyptian kohl vessel set, dating to the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1295 B.C.), includes a wooden container for storing kohl, a black cosmetic used for eye adornment and protection,...

Elegant vintage designer Moroccan kaftan, purple violet color velvet embroidered with Turkish gold threads design all-over. This is an Ottoman styl...

Gilt metal orb pendant handcrafted by skilled artisans in Morocco, North Africa. Amazing metal Moroccan lantern hand-pierced with thousands of small holes to diffuse the light throug...

Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish gilt glass perfume bottle. Hand blown glass perfume bottle gilded with 24-karat gold hand painted designs...

Vintage Moroccan Tribal rug handwoven by Berber women from Morocco. Great geometrical abstract designs, very modernist carpet. Vintage Berber rug from the Taznakht tribe in south eas...

Large Moroccan glazed ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand painted with Arabic calligraphy writing. This kind of Art Writing looks calligraphic...

Antique decorative Moroccan Arabian khoumaya or Jambiya, which is the name in Arabic Ornate with brass and silvered steel hammered element and wood handle. The decorative dagger is v...

Moroccan Berber cable hand-carved with tribal African designs. Rectangular wooden coffee table hand-carved wit tribal designs by skilled Moroccan artisans in Marrakech. Dark brown ...

Antique, 19th century Asian Middle Eastern collector two person wooden camel saddle with ornate brass mountings and iron reinforcements. 19th Century Midd...

A rather unusual Berber rug from the Ait Sgogou tribe, located in the Moroccan Middle Atlas, distinguished by a rich red open field embellished at both ends by contorting horizontal ...

Set of two Moroccan brass Berber tribal sugar hammer. Moroccan Collectible Brass Berber Sugar Hammer,Brass Berber Tribal Sugar Hammer. Authentic old Tuare...

Traditional vintage silvered-metal and brass Moroccan tea pot, embossed with traditional repousse design, nicely aged, handcrafted in Fez, stamped in ...

Ancient Egyptian Turquoise Glazed Faience Ushabti of the 26th Dynasty Good condition, displayed on stand An Egyptian ushabti, also known as shabti or shawabti, is a small funerary f...

Beautiful brass mounted antique ceramic bowl. Very good condition and Color.

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...

Antique Moroccan blue and white ceramic footed vase from Fez. Moorish style handcrafted vase adorned with fine filigree silver nickel work, with two handles. Antique Hispano Moresq...

Antique handcrafted large Moroccan Moorish polychrome decorative ceramic bowl from Fez. Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Antique ceramic handcrafted bowl...

Contemporary Tamagroute Earth Candlestick - Morocco. Tamegroute is a small Moroccan village simply known for it's rich traditional ceramics. The clay is cut by hand from the banks of...

Purchased from the estate of Patti Cadby Birch Trust. Birch was a collector and a trustee of Both MOMA and MMA. The antelope itself is 13 1/2"x4 3/4...

Finely woven of wool and linen, this large, ancient, museum level Coptic textile depicts figures derived from classical antiquity, some playing musical ...

Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish amber painted glass perfume bottle or rose water sprinkler with raised embossed silvered metal floral design over amber glass. The pressed glass bottle in Art Deco, Art Nouveau style is oval shape with curved sides and hand decorated with embossed metal silvered overlay. This has a long metal top spout that unscrews. This is a recycled vintage French perfume...

Marroquin forged steel dagger with sheath. Beautiful koummya dagger with a sheath from the region of Morocco, circa 1870. The blade was created with forged steel, mounted in wood and brass and embellished with silver parts decorated with chiseled and engraved motifs. The dagger is curved with a tick double edge blade, the handle is ornate with silver and wood. Like swords and daggers in most cultures, the Islamic dagger...

Contemporary Tamagroute Green Candlestick - Morocco. Tamegroute is a small Moroccan village simply known for it's rich traditional ceramics. The cl...

Large Moroccan glazed ceramic vase from Fez. Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand painted with Arabic calligraphy writing. This kind of Art Writing looks calligraphic is call...

A Fine and Large Egyptian Limestone Relief Carved in Shallow Relief Traces of original polychrome Old Kingdom / 5th Dynasty / 2454 - 2311 B.C Size: 32cm high, 70cm wide, 5cm deep - 12½ ins high, 27½ ins wide, 2 ins deep Provenance: Ex Private Swiss collection, acquired mid 1960s and thence by descent Ex Rupert Wace Limited London Ex Private London collection cf A...

This Late Period to Ptolemaic Period Egyptian carved wood ear, once part of a mummy mask, stands as a poignant testament to ancient Egyptian customs and beliefs. Dating back over 250...

French School of an Egyptian Middle Eastern Camel Sculpture on Marble Stand. Large and heavy art Deco Style Bronze Resting Camel on White Marble Stand Sculpture. Boasting a dark pati...

Large vintage red and black hand tooled leather Moroccan ottoman. Rectangular shape pouf in red and black leather embroidered with black and white silk threads. Handcrafted by skil...

Inlaid Middle Eastern Backgammon Board and Chest Board. This finely handcrafted Middle Eastern folding game board is exquisitely inlaid with mother-of-pearl, bone, ebony, and a rich...

Moroccan Berber tribal bracelet. Moroccan ethnic bracelet from the High Atlas of Morocco. Handcrafted by Berber women using Moroccan si...

One of a kind large square room size with a happy-go-lucky large camel sitting on an ivory ground. The wool on this is phenomenal. it's soft on the feet. The hump on the camel has a ...

Pair of Moroccan green and brown ceramic urns with lid and handles. Great Moorish style handcrafted and chiselled decorative ceramic urns etched with Arabic calligraphy poetry writin...

Traditional antique circa 1940s Collectible women face veil from the Sinai Bedouin Desert Garment Nikab framed in a lucite box. Museum quality well preserved Middle Eastern Bedouin women face veil, from the Bedouin tribes of the Sinai Desert. Face veil for a Bedouin Women, North Sinai Egypt or Palestine Mid 20th C. An amazing Niqab, Negev Bedouin veil from Palestine or Egypt. Worked on a base of thin red silk and cotton embroidery with antique Ottoman nickel silver coins, glass beads, wool, embroidered, stones, carnelians, glass, and amber. Mid 20th century, circa 1940-50s typical Middle Eastern traditional Arabian Bedouin, Egyptian, Palestinian face mask, garment, head dress, tribal jewelry, bridal veil. Showing heavily decorated in the bottom with silver nickel hands amulets for the Evil Eye protection and early textiles (wool and silk) and tassels hanging down. Face coverings were worn for centuries by the women of various nomadic tribal groups of North Africa and the Middle East. In the western desert of Egypt, Berber women living in Bedouin societies sometimes wear masks or veils called niqab. The veils serve multiple functions, including protecting the women’s face from sun damage, filtering dust from the air, displaying adornment, and demonstrating wealth or status. The niqab worn by Bedouin women on special occasions are sometimes elaborately decorated with coins and beads, like this one. Such masks are not for everyday use; they would be too hot and heavy. They are worn during special events, such as weddings and feasts. Face veil: 12" W x 19" L, circa 1915-1930. Last pictures are references from the book: "Traditional Palestinian Embroidery...

Azilal Moroccan Berber rug. A lovely Moroccan Berber rug from the Azilal province in the Central High Atlas Mountains with a rather whimsical - dare we say, artistic - design and vib...

Small Moroccan "Boucherouite" or Azilal rug. A Moroccan rag rug, woven with cut-up pieces of fabric from old clothes, etc. - boucherouite means rag or t...

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...

Elegant old cedar wood sweet Egyptian mummy mask, 8 3/4 Inches high. Soft weathered surface and great expression. Areas of chips erosion and little bits mis...

Carved hardwood mummy mask having a pink-brown painted ground, painted black eyes and brows. Wearing a black headband. Eyes and brows are restored. Scattere...

Moroccan glazed ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand-painted with Arabic calligraphy pink writing. This kind of Art Writing looks calligraphic...

Large pair of Moroccan glazed polychrome ceramic water jug with handle. Hand painted ceramic handcrafted by skilled Moroccan artisans in Fez Morocco...

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

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...

This 19th century Moroccan Berber chest is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Made from pine wood, it features beautifully painted sides and top, showcasing intricate patterns and vibra...

Gorgeous vintage hostess gown, floral multicolored brocade Kaftan, circa 1970s. Exotic oriental floral long maxi caftan dress with wide arm and lo...

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

Large Moroccan glazed royal blue ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Vintage Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand painted with Arabic calligraphy w...

Fabulous handcrafted antique Moroccan ceramic vase in Moorish style adorned with Fine filigree silver nickel work overlaid. The color of...

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

Moroccan Orientalist oil on canvas painting of a 19th century Moroccan market scene with an old men seating on a carpet selling old coins and a Moorish...

Moroccan Berber tribal bracelet. Moroccan tribal bracelets from the High Atlas of Morocco. Handcrafted by Berber women using Moroccan silver nickel. The ethnic Nomadic and Bedouin jewelry...

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

A 1920s handcrafted Ethnic bracelet by Berber women of Morocco. Women wear this kind of bracelet and silver jewelry for special ceremonies and wedding. Silver, but not of the standa...

The Beni Ouarain confederation is composed of seventeen tribes inhabiting the high mountain region of the northeastern Middle Atlas. Their rugs differ from other Berber weavings in t...

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...

Large Moroccan glazed royal blue ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Vintage Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand painted with Arabic calligraphy wr...

African Moroccan Tuareg tribal Khoumya arm dagger in dark brown leather sheath. great to use as a paper cutter on desk. Handcrafted by Artisans in south Morocco, very fine quality craftsmanship with a stamped leather engraved with Moroccan Tuareg geometric tribal designs. The arm dagger was a weapon widely used by people across Africa in the Sahara and Sudanic Africa, from the central Sahara to North Cameroon, from Nigeria to Somalia. It was worn in a sheath attached to the inner side of the left forearm by a loop, Metal steel blade shows some rust, leather in very good condition. Size: 13 inches length x widest part 1.5 inches. Blade is 1 inch. Africa, Morocco circa 1940s. Great Islamic antique Nomadic Tuareg knife dagger...

Large Moroccan glazed ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand-painted with Arabic calligraphy writing. This kind of Art Writing looks calligraphic ...

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...