Tribal Art

Native American Antique Pima Basket with bird or eagle motive Vintage Pima early 20th century Willow and Devils Claw Basket or Tray, Width 9 inches...

Kazak rugs have primarily been produced as village productions rather than city pieces. Made from materials particular to individual tribal provinces and the rugs of the Caucasus typically display bold geometric designs in primary colours. Kazak rugs are a type of Armenian rug...

Asante (Ashanti) stool mmaa gwa Ghana Wood 20cm x 33cm

Wonderful object with arrow shaped blades. Beautiful decorative with complex and fascinating history; Iron currency tokens are among the most compelling and virtuosic of sub-Sahara...

Tsonga figure South Africa Wood 21cm

Kiwoyo-Muyombo mask Pende DRC Wood 30cm small restoration on the top on a professional customised metal stand ex private collection London, UK

This set of 3 pieces of African currency is very interesting. Looking like some sort of ancient maraca, these 19th century pieces jingle and noise-make with each step. The dimensions...

Guro pulley Ivory Coast Wood 26cm on a customised metal stand

Lwena staff Angola Wood 43cm Provenance: - Michel Koenig, Brussels, 1970s

1920s Persian Tabriz Rug with a weeping willow tree design on a slightly worn dark field Details rug no. j3181 size 10' 1" x 14' 6" (307 x 442 cm)

An antique Ashanti ceremonial stool, carved from a single piece of wood. The up-curved seat stands on five supports, the central one pierced with small semi circles and the outer four supports carved, fretted. In very good condition Length 46cm Height 34cm Width 24cm The origin of the Ashante culture can be found in the Akan ethnic groups that inhabited West Africa around Lake Volta and the Gulf of Guinea. The Asante formed a strong confederation that developed from the late 17th century, with the founding of the city of Kumasi, and whose economy was based on trade, gold mining and slave traffic. They are the most important and larger ethnic group in Ghana and was one of the few African states capable of resisting European imperialism. Within the material heritage and furniture of the Ashante people, some of the most outstanding pieces are the ceremonial stools, being the Golden Stool...

Early 20th century prestige cloth, Dida people, Ivory Coast Raffia, natural dyes An engaging example of resist-dyed prestige cloths, this raffia fragment is professionally mounted o...

Shaman body bags from the early 20th century were sacred and significant artifacts used in certain cultural practices and rituals among various indigenous communities and shamans in ...

Fine large Antique Aboriginal Wunda shield in hard wood carved on both sides with a highly artistic Zigzag Geometric fluted design colored with red and and white pigment & paint. The...

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...

This is a "Mother drum", Asante, Ghana. with polychrome paints, Circa 1935. In the style of the well-known carver Osei Bonsu (1900-1977). Low relief imagery envelopes the body of t...

Beautiful Vintage Italian multi strand Seed coral pearl necklace Real Italian salmon red Coral imitation pearl and black malachite Italian Peri...

Ancient Fiji Islands Flat Serving Bowl or Platter 19th century, made of very dense hardwood with deep patina, and expected wear on bottom. Two small opposing holes for suspension. B...

An exceptionally large Akha Tribe woven silver bracelet with spiral design. This Tribal bracelet encompasses tradition Hill tribe silversmithing techniques ...

A Ulo Akha woman's Tribal headdress adorned with framework of bamboo, beads, pompons, seeds and other unique items. Immerse yourself in the rich cul...

Antique Ethnic Artifact Sepik River Cassowary Bone from Papua New Guinea For many groups in Papua New Guinea, bone was an important medium for making tools of all types. This artifact is made from leg bone of a cassowary, a large, flightless, and extremely dangerous, bird. Cassowaries also play an important role in the mythology of groups in the Sepik River area. Though no longer used these bone artifacts are still used ceremonially. They often play important roles in male initiation and other rituals. They are also worn as personal adornment by tucking them into a band of braided fibers worn around the upper arm. Antique Ethnic Bone Cassowary Artifact with minimal carving and incised design confined to the joint end. A small hole has been drilled through from both sides of the top and presumably for the threading of a cord. The bone has been partially divided near the top and to form two prongs that project down the back of the dagger possibly allowing the user to wear is tuck into a waist band or belt. Origin Papua New Guinea Maprik Dist Area From the Art Collection of Marian and John Scott, acquired in 1962. Similar items are in display in the Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology. Purchased from the amazing private collection of Mark Lissauer who spent his life collecting niche ethnographic pieces. About Mark Lissauer: Mark Lissauer spent forty years travelling abroad for months at a time collecting ethnographic artefacts primarily from New Guinea and the islands of the West Pacific, and from Asia and Himalayan countries. Fluent in five languages and having in the course of business travelled to more than forty countries, Mark is well-known to museums and art-collectors around the world for his long career and his interesting and diverse collection of rare ethnographic material. Mark knows the origin and symbolism of each piece. Through extensive research and more than ninety trips around the globe, Mark familiarised himself with the traditions of the various cultures he visited in order to understand the meaning of each object to its region and tribe. His home has a specialist library and several rooms are filled with tribal carvings, textiles and ethnographica. He acquired his first tribal piece in 1948 during a business trip to Milne Bay, New Guinea, and has since documented the acquisition of some 35,000 items. Several thousands of these have been sold to important private collections and museums worldwide, including the Rockefeller Museum, the British Museum and the Musée National des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, now incorporated into the Louvre Museum. Estimator certificate of authenticity by Wayne Heathcote Tribal Art Dealer and Expert. Heathcote has a flash gallery in Brussels, where much of the tribal art business is centred, and is an expert at Sotheby's tribal art sale...

Moroccan Berber hand-carved wooden sugar hammer "Deggaga". Handcrafted by the Berber women of Morocco, hand-carved and hand painted wood with tribal desig...

An early 20th-century ceremonial chief's coat from Africa represents a magnificent display of cultural heritage and craftsmanship. These coats hold deep significance, symbolizing pow...

Topoke, DR Congo, Africa Iron Early 20th century 36 x 6 in. / 91 x 15 cm. Height on custom display stand: 38.25 in. / 97 cm. These big iron spear points were made by groups livi...

A Rare Large Antique Jambiya Dagger with highly ornate silver work with added gold gilding A superb example of a middle eastern Jambiya Height 3...

Indonesia, Nias, 19th century H. 37.5 x W. 10 cm Sculptures like the one present are not only decorative items but are believed to be vessels that house the spirits of ancestors and are used to communicate with them. After the death of a person a wooden image or Adu Zatua was made to mediate between the human world and the spiritual realm. These kinds of figures were commissioned by noble Nias families, whereas simple and lesser quality carvings generally were found among lower class families. In this particularly fine example, the sculptor has paid careful attention to the proportions of the different parts of the body, dividing it into three main sections – the head, the torso, and the legs. The shapes are sometimes flat, round, or have notches, but all are perfectly in balance creating a certain divine tranquillity. This Adua Zatua’s ears are decorated with earrings, and it is wearing a headdress, pointing towards a chiefly provenance. In 1914 the Dutch gained complete control of the island of Nias and started spreading Protestant Christianity. Many ancestor statues...

19th Century Bronze Coin with Silver Bezel Earrings by Jewels of Santa Fe/Marrakesh A pair of earrings made by Jewels with bronze coins from Morocco and Egypt set in silver bezels a...

African door in carved wood and bronze of chief Baboun, Cameroon, early 20th century Art Baboun, Cameroon, early 20th century. Unique and rare object. C...

Two Exquisite Yaka Figural Decorative Wooden Combs "Cisakulo". These remarkable antique wooden combs feature handles adorned with geometric carvings the top depicting a standing female and the other comb a male figure. The wooden hair combs are not only for the practical purpose of hair combing but also as items of decoration and adornment. Within the Asante Akan Kingdom of West Africa, these combs held significant cultural value. They were presented to women by family members and male admirers before and during courtship, and subsequently by husbands. Elaborately carved with symbolic designs, these combs symbolize beauty, status, and good fortune in a woman's life. Highly collectible pieces with minor signs of wear on the wood. Dimensions: 11" in height by 2.75" in width. Dimensions: 10" in height by 2.5" in width. Early tribal African wood comb...

The flat seat of this early twentieth-century Kamba stool from Kenya has been beautifully decorated with embedded red, green, blue and white glass beads. Carved from a single piece o...

Vintage Southwestern Native American Pueblo Old Pawn cuff bracelet, circa 1915. Stamped ingot silver with a turquoise cabochon. The inner bracelet circumference measures approximatel...

In Kuba society, title holding is dominated by men; there are only two titles held by women. Headdresses were and are the most visible expression of o...

Superb Antique Moroccan Koumiya Berber Dagger A rare and superb example of a Moroccan Koumiya Berber Dagger with highly ornate silver and brass work a...

This fine example of an early Senufo granary door from the Ivory Coast dates back to the first quarter of the twentieth century. Decorated with a series of carved animals and masks, ...

A monumental Australian aboriginal throwing club, crafted from a very hard wood and it dates to the early 20th century. Incised longitudinal fluted design with a pitch coated handle. Condition: Very good condition. Display base not included. Dimensions: 26.5 inches in length. Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our works of art come with our lifetime authenticity guarantee. Red base not included. History: The throwing stick...

This stool, from the Gurage culture of Ethiopia, has been carved from a single piece of heavy, dense wood. The stool exhibits a flat, low form and over time, has developed a lovely d...

Late 19th to Early 20th Century Silver Wire Serpent Bracelet, Rajasthan, India A substantial silver cuff made of wire bent in the shape of a serpent, these bracelets were worn on th...

This stool is a beautiful example of an Arsi saddle-shaped stool from the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Finely carved into this form from dense, heavy brown wood, this stool has developed a lovely rich surface patina as a result of use over time. ‍Estimated Period: Late 19th/Early 20th Century Ex Private Collection, Addis Ababa...

This finely carved, medium-sized chair from the Jinka culture in Ethiopia features an upright back-support with an unusual and attractive cut-out cross decoration. A series of down...

This very early African Kuba cloth is made out of natural fibers to wear at ceremonial festivities. Made entirely by hand with striking colours. Beautiful to hang on your wall in a ...

A Beautiful Vintage Chinese Ethnic silver enamel and coral dragon bracelet Hand crafted silver with colourful enamel and natural real red c...

The arrangement of these antique shells, meticulously strung together, creates a harmonious symphony of textures and tones. Their timeless elegance and natural radiance make this nec...

A Fine Fijian Chief’s ‘Yaqona’ or Kava Bowl Carved of vesi wood with traces of old residue deposits, with old ‘fibre’ tribal repair Wood, fibre Fiji 19th Century Size: 14cm high,...

Antique superb Pende mbuya mask DR Congo late 19th century Mask with filed teeth ! Available at art Gallery Decoster Belgium Tribe : Pende Country : DR Congo Age: late 19th / early...

Superb and rare museum quality Holo mvunzi wooden statue late 19th/early 20 th century DR Congo / Angola For sale at Art Gallery Decoster Belgium Tribe :...

This late nineteenth-century chair, from the Gindabarat in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, has been finely carved from a single piece of dense, heavy wood. The circular, narrow-in-siz...

Yoruba Maternity Group  Wood, polychrome, pigment, scorching Old collection name to base: ‘Sealy’ and ‘16.’  Nigeria  Late 19th Century  SIZE: 58cm high - 22¾ ins high PROVENANCE:...

Finely carved from a single piece of wood, this stool from the Sidamo region of Ethiopia displays a wonderful sculptural quality. Four cone-shaped legs support the stool's slightly-c...

A Rare Anthropomorphic Tsonga Headrest An old paper label: ‘African Pillow Bt. Webster. Sep 1897. P.’ Fine colour and patina through use Wood, pigment, paper label Zimbabwe 19th...

Together, these two finely carved flutes display a wonderful interplay of the abstracted forms of a 'male' and 'female' figure. A strip of snake skin has been wrapped around the 'bo...

A fine Chinese Ethnic Minority antique turquoise jade coral silver necklace from Bai people Yunnan. Coral silver turquoise and malachite with rare central carved lattice work jade b...

Antique superb rare Lobi or Bwa stool Burkina Faso / Mali region Available at Art Gallery Decoster Belgium Tribe : Bwa or Lobi Country : Burkina Faso / Mali Late 19th / Early 20th ...

This large, impressive nineteenth-century Ethiopian throne, from the Wollega Oromo culture, features a high, upright back-rest. An attractive cut-ou...

With a low seat supported by two splayed legs, this Lobi backrest from Burkina Faso exhibits a wonderful form with a long, reclining back support. Throughout, the surface of the piec...

A lovely little hand carved Senufo Sejen bird sculpture from the early to mid 20th century, Africa, Ivory Coast.

Early 20th Century Brass & Iron Jeweler's Torch, Karnataka, South India Experience the history and craftsmanship of South India with this early 20th Century brass & iron jeweler's t...

African currency bracelet made of bronze, with a rich patina.

This amazing nineteenth-century Ethiopian bed, personally collected in Ethiopia in the 1990's, formally belonged to the collection of Tekalegn Besapa, in Addis Ababa. This type of be...