Ancient Wooden Puppet Articulated Head

Large hand carved tribal wooden beaker Nepalese milk pot with handle. Early 20th century antique tribal milk pot with incised pattern. This rustic milk pot wa...

Papua New Guinea, 18th-19th century L. 22.5 x W. 18 cm (approx.) Provenance: Collected by Schulze-Westrum Collection Rinck Hollnberger, Munich (purchased in the 1980s or 1990s) For a comparable skull see the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The heads of humans and of animals such as crocodiles and pigs formerly played integral roles in the ceremonial life of Papuan Gulf peoples, who considered the heads to be vessels of life-giving supernatural power. Within men’s ceremonial houses, human skulls were displayed, together with sacred images such as spirit boards or gope, by the members of each clan in a specially constructed clan shrine. However, not all heads required the death of an enemy. In some areas, heads made from wood or other materials appear to have had powers equal to actual ones. In contrast to skulls, the facial features of wood heads were sometimes depicted as they appeared in life. This example comes from the Wapo Creek area, where wood heads appear to have been used interchangeably with actual skulls. When headhunting was abolished by Australian colonial...

A collection of Burkina Faso currency from the mid-20th century. This assortment of three vintage African ritual iron snakes effigies originate from the L...

A pair of African Mumuye rain wands on custom stands. This pair of vintage tribal rain wands originate from the Mumuye peoples of West Africa, Nigeria. These forged-iron wands were utilized by the Mumuye shamans in rain-making ceremonies where they would place the bottom ends in small holes dug into the earth, and symbolically petition the gods for rain. This pair of Mumuye rain wands are each presented upon custom black iron stands, making a great pair of decorative objects...

Antique Moroccan tribal Folk Art Berber wool comb. 19th century, nice patina, Museum collector piece.

Ancient wooden stool with four feet dating to the 19th century. From Congo, Africa. Provenance: Galerie Démons et Merveilles, Paris; Private Collection, United Kingdom.

Two Burmese chin state tribal markers. Tribal Territory markers collected within the chin state Burma (Myanmar). Each piece is primitively carved with a face and a collection of item...

A very interesting 19th century mold in solid wood for making donkey harnesses. Fabulous as a pedestal with a wonderful contemporary feel. The top surface measures: 10 1/2" L x 5 1/4".

Ligbi mask, with a protruding plate on the head engraved with decorative motifs. Highlights of blue pigments and kaolin enhance this small mask, satin black patina. The appearance is...

Ancient nomadic belts, covered with embroidery and ancient coins. Purchased by a young oriental man in a European market. they can also be used as blinds for curtains. nr. 1 - cm. 5...