Tribal Folk Art

Yoruba female figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak. an Ibeji or twin figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with ve...

Antique East Anatolian long runner rug. A great antique village rug from Eastern Turkey with considerable age and a highly unusual and intriguing design. The pile of the rug is knotted in angora (mohair), rather than wool, another unusual feature. Fantastic color palette with superb natural dyes. A top-flight collectible item that should be of interest even for the seasoned connoisseurs. Well preserved and complete after minimal professional repairs. As a valuable antique...

Collection of Six Dan and Bassa Passport Miniature Masks Ivory Coast Africa Dan and Bassa passport masks were small masks for individuals carried as charms for protection and healin...

Late 19th Century Hide Shield, Amarro People, Ethiopia A shield from the Amarro people of Ethiopia, this is a more unusual type with raised bumps over the entire surface. The rolled...

Wood three legged chair with openwork geometric back, from the Gurage or Oromo people, Ethiopia, Vintage Africa Carved of a single piece of wood, this was a chair for an important p...

rare square shaped tribal Persian Gabbeh rug from the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. The signature reads "order by reza" and dated 1940 in farsi. It must have been custom made duri...

Handwoven wool serape blanket from the highlands of Oaxaca, Mexico with traditional Mixtec symbols, circa 1950s.  

Intriguing good looking mask artistically made of combination of hand crafted beads ,shells , and hand painted wood. To make such a exceptional object of art for display. Custom-mad...

Antique Kuba Shoowa Cut-Pile & Embroidered Cloth, DR Congo A graphically compelling example of a Kuba raffia fiber prestige cloth with cut pile and stitched embroidery. In very good...

Carved wood large female Songye Kifwebe mask with classic white lines, blackened ridge down crest of forehead, nose and mouth. Worn holes around back edge of mask from attachment of...

Kuba (Bushong) Raffia Fiber Textile Panel From Woman’s Skirt The Bushong people are one of the largest and most dominant ethnic groups within the Kuba Kingdom in the DR Congo, and h...

Rare Antique Woman’s Abaca Fiber Tube-Skirt, Philippines The Subanen are an indigenous people living in the mountainous interior of Zamboanga del Sur on the Zamboanga Peninsula in w...

Doll, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, S. Dakota A "No Face Doll" by an unknown artist of the Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in S. Dakota. A cape of three tiers of dentali...

Miao Tribe Interlaced & Massed Rings Silver Pectoral Necklace Miao Tribe, Northern Vietnam, Laos & Southwest China, Mid 20th Century An exquisite Miao Tribe Interlaced & Massed Ri...

Group of two polychrome painted wood mid-20th century Mexican dance masks. Each with a face one with a lizard on top and the other with a mermaid....

Geometric Barmbara Sukuru Animal Mask with horns, teeth, from Mali, West Africa. Inserted wood teeth, abstract face with open eyes, with raised eyebrows and framed face. Old native...

Pair of hand-carved hardwood stools attributed to the Oromo people of Ethiopia, 1970s. Each stool is sculpted from a single block of dense wood, with a broad concave seat supported b...

Carved wood powerful portrait of a Makonde man with a traditional lip plug in his upper lip, high carved cheek bones in the form of a finely carved helmet mask, with attached hair on...

African Gabon Late 20th Century carved wood Galwa mask in tapered ovoid form with overlapping brow, protruding angular nose, geometric eye and mouth holes, 2 side holes plus a styliz...

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...

The African wood female bust figurative sculpture of a Mandinka woman is a striking piece of art that encapsulates the cultural heritage and craftsmanship of West Africa. Hand-carved...

A Pair of Inkangara Prestige Baskets Rwanda or Burundi, Tutsi and Hutu peoples 20th century (1960s/1970s) Left H 13 ins (33 cm); D 7 ins (17.5 cm) Right H 13.5 ins (34...

An authentic large wooden “plank” mask from the Nafana people of West Africa, mid-20th century. Hand-carved with bold geometric forms and stylized facial features, this piece was tra...

Mid-20th century black dance mask, Guerrero, Mexico A nice old mask from Guererro, Mexico, used in the Tlacololero Dance of the Tlactapa and probably fr...

Early and rare mask from Gabon, Central Africa, created by the Tsogho peoples. Powerful large mask with carved open eyes, and black painted eyes above, below heavy carved eyebrows. ...

Matching rare pair of male twin figures "Ibeji" from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Africa, created in the early 20th century. remains of Reckitts blue (laundry bleach) bluing in hai...

Kuba (Bushong) Raffia Fiber Textile Panel From Woman’s Skirt The Bushong people are one of the largest and most dominant ethnic groups within the Kuba Kingdom in the DR Congo, and h...

Yoruba male figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak. an Ibeji or twin figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with very...

Mid-century Kuna native Mola cotton applique tapestry depicting angels, one holding a chalice. Mola, a Kuna word, has several meanings: fabric or cloth, shirt or upper garment for me...

Leather Shield, South Sudan A small leather shield typical of the region known as an upwal, concave hide is attached to a reed spine with plaiting to form a strong grip. Mounted on ...

A wonderful example of a Tibetan Coral Bead mala / neckpiece with a stunning mix of orange & red colours that have aged beautifully over the decades. Tib...

Impressively carved from a single block of wood, this monumental male spirit or ancestor figure originates from the Middle Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. The figure combines stron...

Early 20th century Ceremonial Cloth / Tampan, Paminggir, Lampung region, South Sumatra, Indonesia Commonly referred to as ship cloths, these ceremonial tampan would have been used as gifts, wrappers, cushions or pillows in any number of life-transition ceremonies, including children’s first hair cutting...

Vintage 1960's Kuna Mola, a traditional multi layered cotton applique tapestry hand sewn by Central American Kuna native women. Mounted on cardboard, for eas...

This flat shadow puppet was crafted on the island of Java by a puppet artist using buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It features movable arms, controlled by outer bamboo rods (however this puppet lost one of its bamboo rods over the years due to age) It was used in Wayang puppet...

Early 20th century silver apron counter weight, Miao or Dong culture, Hunan or Guangxi province, China A sinuous silver counterweight worn at the back ...

This “Wayang Golek” is a visibly old shadow puppet carved using soft wood and cloth. It features an articulated head and arms connected to rods, the dress...

Early 20th Century Brazilian Metal Hanging Amulet 'Penca de Balangadas' – Circa 1940 Discover the captivating history behind this early 20th-century metal hanging amulet, known as '...

Light masks like these represented the spirit of an ancestor and were used for social control by Ngil, the judiciary association. The facial markings, abstract features and strong, e...

Created and used from the late 19th century into the 20th century, Dan passport masks served as personal talismans with spiritual connection and as portable identification symbol rep...

An old well used Ethiopian head rest with attached oxidized silver or white metal beads and dangles. It is in good condition with wear, polish and eros...

Old and well used Luba wood medicine mortar with classic carved Luba face, DRC Africa. The mortar is heavily worn with deep polished surface outside from many years of use, and the i...

A unique intricately detailed hand-hammered bronze of a fish. Bursting with character, this marine life mythical decorative object would enhance any shelf or tabletop. This object form is one of the best-known examples of Benin art, created from the thirteenth century onwards, by the Edo people, which also included other sculptures in brass, including some famous portrait heads and smaller pieces of art. Tribal African Art...

An incredible early 20th century Makenge hand-built ceramic palm wine pot with a graceful shape including a narrow neck and a wide belly. The pot is covered ...

A hand-carved partially painted (natural pigments) Lega/kwele/bakwele mask. Artisan made in Congo circa 1960-80 and brought back to Denmark by a Danish traveller. It is executed in u...

Xantolo mask from the Huasteca region of Hidalgo. This rare collector's mask was acquired from the town of Tzapotitla in the municipality of Huazalingo in the mid 1970´s. The Xantolo celebration is a full blown...

Papua New Guinea standing male figure carved hardwood fragment, possibly from canoe? Back broken away and then cut and smoothed (probably by original baser) Based on period block of...

Bring originality and boldness to your décor with this tattooed wooden arm. Inspired by the ancient and multicultural art of tattooing, each piece is adorned with powerful and dreaml...

Elegant ancient cedar wood sweet large Egyptian mummy mask, 13 Inches high. Soft weathered surface and great expression. Areas of chips, erosion an...

Antique Papua New Guinea Hand-Carved Tribal Mask, Sepik River Region, Early 20th Century An evocative and finely crafted tribal mask from Papua New Guinea, likely originating from the Sepik River region, renowned for its powerful ceremonial art and expressive visual traditions. This striking mask is constructed from handwoven vegetal fibers, rather than carved wood, reflecting a distinct regional approach within Papua New Guinea ceremonial arts. The bold facial composition features exaggerated eyes, pronounced contours, and graphic detailing—hallmarks of Sepik-influenced ritual objects. The surface displays a rich, naturally aged patina with visible wear and tonal variation consistent with age, ritual handling, and long-term environmental exposure. Hand-applied pigments in multiple colors further enhance its visual impact and ceremonial character. Masks of this type were traditionally used in spiritual and ceremonial contexts, often associated with ancestral reverence, initiation rites, or protective symbolism within village life. Today, such works are highly sought after by collectors of tribal and ethnographic art, as well as interior designers seeking objects with strong cultural narrative and sculptural presence. A compelling sculptural object whether displayed on a wall or as a standalone accent, this mask brings depth, history, and a sense of the primal to any refined interior or curated collection. Condition: Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear, surface patina, and minor irregularities consistent with traditional hand-weaving, hand-painting, and use. No restorations observed. Authentic Early 20th-century Papua New Guinea masks...

Shoowa Prestige Cloth Kuba Shoowa peoples DR Congo, Kasai Region Raffia palm fiber, natural and chemical dyes, cut-pile and stem stitch embroidery 24.5 x 24.5 inches (62 x 62 cm) ...

This rare and unique Ife-style bronze head, dating from the mid-20th century, draws inspiration from the great sculptural traditions of West Africa’s royal arts. Echoing the prestigious effigies of the kingdoms of Ife and Benin, these works embody the symbolic language associated with sovereign authority, lineage, and ancestral commemoration. Crafted using the refined lost-wax casting technique, it demonstrates remarkable precision and mastery—harmonious proportions, finely worked surfaces, and a dignified presence. The style evokes the renowned Ife heads...

A late 19th or early 20th century Kuba Prestige cloth, mostly embroidered with cut pile borders.

This old mask has a custom made stand and was used in initiation ceremonies. Lega masks always have special facial shapes. It is from one piece of wood cut and has beautiful geometri...

African Benin Bronze Sculpture, Africa, circa mid 20th Century. Beautiful casting with wonderful attention to detail. Solid, heavyweight...

Fon carved heavy hard wood ceremonial seat with multiple figures, from Benin, Africa. Dark stained wood with worn areas from use, "U" shaped seat supported by four caryatid figures, ...

Oval dance mask from Nepal with powerful expression, open eyes and oval mouth with finely carved teeth, nicely carved ears. Heavy black encrusted patina inside and out from tradition...

Rare double joined standing figure with male figure on top standing on female shoulders. Deep patina and wear from traditional use. Finely carved and expressive faces. 11 1/4 inche...

Papua New Guinea standing figure from the Bioma peoples with raised designs, stylized classic face, and additional face in stomach. Mounted on custom metal and wood base. Traces of...

A 10-strand necklace hand-crafted from red-orange Naga beads from the early 20th century and strung with natural fibers. Necklaces such as these were a stat...