Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
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Place of Origin: Sub-Saharan African
Antique Nupe Carved Wood Openwork Geometric Stool
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Well used and loved Nupe carved wood stool with openwork geometric design,
It is in good condition, appropriate for its age, use, and medium. Well used with deep patina, chips and ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Cast Bronze Relief Plaque from Benin, 1950s
By People from Benin
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Intriguing cast bronze relief plaque from Benin, showing three guardians.
The plaque was modeled after ancient Benin bronzes but was made in the 20th century. The plaque is cast in b...
Category
1940s Tribal Vintage Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Lega Bwami Society Mask on Display Stand with Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
African Art by Tshibanda Bondo, Relief in Brass, 1978
By Tshibanda Bondo
Located in Delft, NL
African Art by Tshibanda Bondo, Relief in Brass, 1978
Tshibanda Bondo (Senegalese, born 1947)
African art with relief in brass
Scene of a sitting person
Signed and dated 1978
The s...
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Bamileke Throne Stool with Leopard
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Bamileke throne made with wood, coated with jute, embroidered with polychrome glass beads, cowrie snails, embroidery with glass beads that are missing in some areas. In the Grassfiel...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
African Art by Ngoy Kabem, Sadi M, Three Heads of Woman relief in Brass, 1979
Located in Delft, NL
African Art by Ngoy Kabem, Sadi M, Three Heads of Woman relief in Brass, 1979
African Art by Ngoy Kabem, Sadi M,
With a scene of three heads of women in relief in brass
Signed and...
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Brass
African Mask, Angola, 20th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
African mask in hand painted wood, 20th century Angola.
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Female Kifwebe Mask with old collection label, Luba-Songye People, DR Congo
Located in Leuven , BE
Traditionally, Kifwebe masks were created and worn by members of the secret masking society, Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe, of the Luba and the Songye People living in the central part of the Co...
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Tribal Ethiopian Ceremonial Coffee Stands
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Grouping of Ceremonial coffee stands
Ethiopia
Early 20th century
Wood
Largest: 8" high x 6" diameter (20 x 15 cm)
Smallest: 6.75" x 3.50" ( 17 x 9 cm)
These little known Branc...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Ethiopian Headrest
Located in London, GB
This late nineteenth-century headrest, from the Oromo culture in Ethiopia, displays a rare form. Above a triangular-shaped base, the curved, crescent-shaped neck rest features four c...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
African Art by Luzolano, Oil Painting, 1978
Located in Delft, NL
African Art by Luzolano, Oil Painting, 1978
African Art , oil painting
Signed by Luzolano, 1978,
A scene of two African woman
The measurement is 60.5 cm ...
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Mid-20th Century Tribal Beaded Cache-Sex Modesty Apron, Cameroon
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mid-20th century tribal beaded cache-sex modesty apron (Pikuran),
Mandara Mountains, Cameroon
These colorful cache-sex were worn for celebrations, rituals...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Beads
Ndop Kuba Statue From The Kuba Ndengese Shoowa Tribe Dr Congo Kasaï African Art
Located in Leuven, BE
Exceptional royal Ndop statue From the Kuba / Ndengese / Shoowa tribe - DR Congo Kasaï region - Circa 1930-1950
Tribe : Ndengese / Kuba / Shoowa
Country : DR Congo
Height = 28 cm
Per...
Category
Early 20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Fine Kuba Cup with Incised Textile Designs, early 20th century Central Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Fine Kuba wood cup with incised designs similar to the famous Kuba textiles, early 20th century, from Central Africa.
The woven cris cross designs that are typical of the Kuba currency...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Luba People Caryatid Stool Democratic Republic Congo Central Africa
Located in Rochester, NY
Old Luba People stool hand carved from a single piece of tree wood w/ caryatid female ancestral figure as the central support. Showing good signs of genuine age and beautiful old sur...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Cameroon "Bat" Stool African Sculpture
By Cameroon Tribe
Located in Sharon, CT
Possibly Babanki. Circular ceremonial wood stool constructed of repeated animal heads. Original applied patina.
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Dance mask, Kifwebe, Songye, Congo
By Songye Tribe
Located in Stockholm, SE
Dance mask/ sculpture. Known as a Kifwebe mask. Songye. Carved wood. 20th century.
With a few flaws and repairs.
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early Ghost Like Kumu Mask With Kaolin Open Eyes Mouth Teeth Congo Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Ghost Like Kumu Mask With Kaolin Open Eyes Mouth Teeth, Congo, Africa
It is in good condition with wear, polish and erosion from traditional use, appropriate for its age, use,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Baule Female Figure African Sculpture
By Baule Tribe
Located in Sharon, CT
A fine old Baule carving, with a rich golden brown surface patina.
Category
Early 1900s Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
African Art by MB Kasongo Banza Meso, L'Angoisse II, Brass Relief, 1977
Located in Delft, NL
African Art by MB Kasongo Banza Meso, L'Angoisse II, Brass Relief, 1977
MB Kasongo Banza Meso,
Title: L'Angoisse II, in brass relief
African Art, Signed and dated 1977
The frame wil...
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Decorative Hand-Carved African Statue from Kenya
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Decorative ebony well hand-carved African statue of a young women.
Handmade in Kenya, Africa.
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Ebony
Pair of Monumental Topoke African Currency Spears on Museum Stands, Late 19th C.
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressive pair of late 19th century extra-long African currency spears—properly referred to as liganda or ngbele—from the Topoke, Turumbu, or Lokele peoples and related cultures in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, presented on museum-caliber custom made black pedestal display stands.
A liganda’s monetary value was determined primarily by its length, and based on the monumental size of the pair offered here, they would’ve been classified as dihunga liganda—the largest of those made—and used for important events or transactions such as wedding dowries or the purchase of livestock or a canoe.
Each dihunga liganda is comprised of two hand-forged, hand-wrought, and hand-worked thin melded iron pieces that in whole form a sword-like spear with winged elements that smoothly transition to a blade terminating in an elongated tip. Middle ridge with parallel linear decorations on both sides follow the left edge of the blade and the perimeter of the wings.
Narrow cylindrical shaft at bottom would’ve originally allowed it to be mounted on a pole or planted in the ground. Both dihunga liganda display a very handsome and desirable amount of uniform natural patina and character throughout.
Created and exchanged by the Turumbu originally, as well as by the Topoke, Lokele, Bambole, Wagenia, and Bajurnu peoples of the Isangi, Kisangani, Lomami, Lualaba, and other nearby regions of central Africa until around 1920, at which point the use of liganda as currency was banned by the Belgian colonial powers in control at the time.
Presented on commanding museum-quality custom made matte black wood pedestal display...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Steel, Iron, Wrought Iron
Early Incised Carved Gourd Rattle From Congo Africa Man Zebra Crocodile Rhino
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Incised Carved One-piece Gourd Rattle from Congo Africa.
Great (unknown) stories shown including a man, snake, two rhinos, a zebra (?) crocodile and on the other side a long s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Traditional Hardwood Crocodile Carving, Nigeria, cira 1970s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Decorative Folk Art hand-carved hardwood crocodile, with lots of details in the carving. Nigeria, circa 1970s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Yaka Standing Wood Janus Male/Female Divination Figure DRC Congo, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Yaka Carved wood standing Janus back to back male/female divination figure DRC Congo, Africa.
Male figure side with open mouth with exposed carved teeth. Female side with traces of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Tribal Currency, Chamba People, Nigeria
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Forged iron currency, Chamba people, Northeastern Nigeria
A piece of traditional currency used for barter or exchange, it measures 15 inches (38 cm) high by 18 inches (45.7 cm) wide...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Striking Makonde Animal Helmet Mask, Dog or Hyena, Tanzania, Early 20th C.
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Striking Makonde animal helmet mask, dog or hyena, Tanzania. Early 20th century with dark patina from traditional tribal use, wear inside from being used. Finely carved features, wit...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
African Gabon Kota Mahongwe Hongwe Bwete Reliquary Guardian Figure Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly fantastic, engaging, and uniquely made African Kota Mahongwe Hongwe Reliquary Guardian Figure/ Sculpture made by the Kota (Bakota) pe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Copper
Senufo Crocodile Headdress, Africa
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
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 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Primitive Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Woven African Tribal Bogalan Mud Cloth Textile
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handwoven Bogolan mud cloth textile from Mali, Africa, Bambara.
It is a handwoven tribal cotton fabric traditionally dyed with fermented mud.
Woven Afr...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Pair of African Igbo Open-Sided Cast Copper Cuff Bracelets
By Igbo People
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice pair of African Igbo open-sided cast copper cuff bracelets, circa 1980s. The pair are a fine example of an open-sided cast copper cuff bracelet...
Category
Late 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Large Buyu Protection Figure Democratic Republic Congo Africa
Located in Rochester, NY
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Naive Ethiopian Painting for the 79th Anniversary Italo-Ethiopian War in 1975
Located in Budapest, HU
Mengistu Haile Mariam and other Generals looking at the celebrators
oil on canvas painting, 90 x 190 cm
with Ge'ez language inscriptions.
Category
1970s Folk Art Vintage Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
African Wooden Female Igbo Agbogo Tribal Mask Brown-Red-Beige Nigeria 1970s
Located in Salzburg, AT
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...
Category
1970s Tribal Vintage Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Ancient Cubist Danced Kuba Mask Black Patina Cone Eyes Congo Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Ancient Cubist Kuba Dance Mask Black Patina, Cone Shaped Eyes, from the Congo, Africa.
It is in good condition with wear, polish and erosion from traditional use, appropriate for it...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Old And Exceptional Ngombe/ Poto / Doko Sword - Dr Congo - Museum Quality - 1900
Located in Leuven, BE
Old And Exceptional Ngombe / Poto / Doko Sword - Dr Congo
Tribe : Ngombe / Poto / Doko
Period: 1900 - before 1930
Length: 69 cm (with scabbard). Without scabbard: 62 cm
Very good / P...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century Ashanti Prestige Stool with Elephant Motif, Ghana
Located in London, GB
This impressive early twentieth-century stool, from the Ashanti culture in Ghana, depicts an elephant - an Ashanti symbol of power and strength. Finely carved from a heavy brown wood...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Old Yaka Slit Drum, Deep Patina, Original Striker Congo Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old early Yaka slit drum, deep patina wear and polish from years of use, with original striker. From the Yaka people, Democratic Republic of Congo, early 20t...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Senufo Staff Sotheby's Provenance
By Senufo
Located in Sharon, CT
A Senufo staff depicting a seated woman. It is important that the quality and authenticity of tribal art should be equal to the quality and authenticity of the modern art it is displ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Exceptional Rare Knife/Sword From The Luba / Luluwa /Nkutshu Tribe DR Congo
Located in Leuven, BE
Exceptional Rare Knife/Sword From The Luba / Luluwa /Nkutshu Tribe DR Congo - circa 1900
Tribe: Luba / Luluwa / Nkutshu
A unique museum piece
DR Congo
Period: 19th Century - ca 1900...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Ancient carved Make-up Box From The Kuba Tribe, Dr Congo
By Kuba
Located in Bilzen, BE
A very old wooden make-up box
Circa: early 20th century
Origin: DR Congo from the Kuba tribe
Material: wood,
Condition of item: age appropriate wear.
Very rich tribal patina 7 x ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Small Dancing Lobi Figure With Arms Out, Cubist Face Ghana West Africa ex Willis
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Small dancing Lobi figure with arms out, and cubist face from Ghana, West Africa. ex James Willis, San Francisco, CA. Damage to proper right hand, fingers absent. Heavy encrusted p...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Magical Barbara Antelope Mask Mirrors Seeds Cowries Mali, Africa ex Willis
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
18/1900s A Fine Bena Lulua Mask - Primitive African Folk Art
Located in Skien, NO
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...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
Finely Carved Early Ashanti Stool With Bird Motif, Ghana
Located in London, GB
This large early Ashanti stool consists of an attractive support featuring a double-sided bird motif.
The surface of the stool exhibits a rich, dark patina. Extensive use over the ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
African Helmet Mask 'Gelede' from Yoruba Nigeria
Located in San Francisco, CA
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...
Category
20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mid-20th Century Fante Asafo Flag, Ghana
Located in New York, NY
A large and graphically stunning asafo flag.
Fante flags represent the merger of two cultural traditions, the Akan tradition of combining proverbs with ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
African Nafana Bedu Large Moon Plank Zoomorphic Geometric Wood Sculpure Mask
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, quite large and heavy, colorful Bedu plank mask by the Nafana (Senufo) tribe who reside in the central north-west of Ghana and the north-east of...
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early small Kuba Cup With Refined Face, Fine Hair, Handle DRC, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Group of 4 Giraffe Folk Art Rattan Bamboo Straw Hand Painted Animal Sculptures
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Group of 4 Giraffe African Folk Art Rattan Bamboo Straw Hand Painted Animal Sculptures
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Straw, Twine
Yoruba Indigo Cloth
Located in Greenwich, CT
Hand dyed Yoruba (Nigeria) cloth from the Esie area, 1950s.
Category
1950s Vintage Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
African Carved Gabon Mask No:1
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
A unique mask, handmade by artisans in the Punu region of Gabon. This mask has been crafted using wood carving techniques and adorned with polychrome tempera paint, giving it a dist...
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early Small Salampasu Warrior's Wood Mask, Zaire, Africa, Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early carved wood small Salampasu Warrior's Mask, Zaire, Africa early 20th century, remains of black and white pigments, on custom stand.
Mask 10", height on stand 14" strong angul...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Senoufo Ivory Coast 'Kpelié' Initiation Dance Mask, 1st Half of the 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
A strikingly darkly patinated and geometrically inscribed ritual mask made by the Senoufo people of the Ivory Coast. This delicately carved mask, with its characteristic arched eyebrows, oval head and narrow eyes represents a beauteous female spirit, with desirable dark skin, facial scarification to the sides of the mouth, and at the edges of the mask the elaborate rounded and rectangular hairstyles worn by women in Senoufo society.
However, a mask of this sort, known as a ‘Kpelié’ mask...
Category
Mid-20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Strong Cubist Lobi Standing Figure One Arm Out Ghana, Africa Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Finely carved large geometric figure from the Lobi, of Ghana and Burkina Faso, dating from the early to mid-20th century. It has a captivating intense gaze and one arm folded on ches...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Ancient African Wooden Stool
Located in Soho, London, GB
Ancient wooden stool with four feet dating to the 19th century. From Congo, Africa.
Provenance: Galerie Démons et Merveilles, Paris; Private Collection, United Kingdom.
Category
19th Century Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Kuba Shoowa Textile 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Shoowa Prestige Cloth
D.R.Congo, Kuba (Shoowa) People
Mid 20th century
Raffia, natural dyes, cut pile embroidery
61 x 53.5 cm (24″ x 21”)
Provenance: Pierre Loos Collection, Bru...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
African Yoruba Painted Gelede Headdress
Located in Chicago, IL
This painted mask was created by the Yoruba People of western Nigeria, and was worn during a tradition known as Gelede. A blend of ritual and artistic spectacle, Gelede pays homage to the women of their Community, understood to possess spiritual powers capable of the benefit or the destruction of society. The Gelede masquerade is an opportunity to honor or condemn behaviors within the Community, through dance, art, satire, and poetry. Worn by veiled dancers, Gelede masks...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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