Tribal Art

Hardwood mortar used for grinding coffee from Northern Africa. This mortar decorated with incised lines and small brass tacks. There are a couple of small losses.

Circa 1930s extra large hand carved Eastern European wooden dough bowl. Dark wood with handles - this is 44” wide. Unknown maker.

Exceptional African wood carving ,mounted on custom-made steel base of women graciously looking forward, beautiful facial expression, and very ni...

A South Eastern Congo, Zaire Songye Protective Fetish Figure ‘Nkishi’ of Geometric Form the arms placed to the side A plug of fetish material in the head cavity a strip of old hide and fur around the waist Old smooth crusted patination 19th Century – Early 20th Century Size: 20cm high – 8 ins high / 29.5cm high, 11½ ins high (including stand) The face of this protective figure is typical of the strong angularity of Songye carving. Amongst the Songye ‘Nkishi’ were associated with a magico-religious society known as ‘bukisi’ which controlled initiation camps and circumcision ceremonies. A shaman would ritually add magical substances ‘bashimba’ to activate the figure as a source of power that would give protection and ensure well-being. Larger figures ensured the tranquillity of the whole community and promoted village fecundity and fertility. Smaller personal or family ‘Nkishi’ were used for protection against illness, sorcery, witchcraft, and war and to promote fertility. Due to their considerable powers the figures were considered dangerous and so they were manoeuvred by means of rods or sticks attached to their arms. They were sometimes made to walk as if on parade. These small half figures were not always used as personal protective devices, but were placed in gourd bowls and used by diviners to communicate with the supernatural world. These divinatory calabash were filled with a number of symbolic objects such as chicken claws, teeth, stones, seeds, etc., as well as carved wooden figures. The Songye’s ritual use of calabash can be compared with the baskets used by the Tshokwe. Provenance: Ex English Private collection Acquired 1950’s Ex Finch and Co...

This rare antique Kukukuku (pronounced "cookah-cookah") war club is from the remote Morobe Province located within the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The head is carved from...

A wonderful terracotta plate with tripod legs - painting in the manner of Picasso - stamped and with original tag Could be hung or used only ...

Vintage headhunter brass and trade bead necklace, Nagaland Trade beads with a brass medallion of a hunter's head shaped like a fish as the centerp...

An impressive and seldom Nigerian large basket garment and cover, with dyed patterned band. Those baskets where used to preserve grains. Tall colorful handwoven lidded basket from ...

Woven basketry yam helmet mask from Papua New Guinea. Flat form with projecting nose and eyes, encrusted surface. 13 inches high, mid 20th century. Will look great on the wall!

Woven painted basketry yam helmet mask from Papua New Guinea. Hollow woven form with traces of red and white pigments. Measures: 14 1/2 inches high, mid 20th century.

A very finely woven wool veil used as a head cover in the wedding ceremony among the Ida Ou Zeddout Berber people of the Moroccan Anti Atlas region. The red tonality is obtained with...

Early finely carved African Afikpo mask with stylized geometric long face. From Nigeria close to the Cross River. From an old collection in the Southwest. Overall dimensions 15 x 4 1...