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Place of Origin: African
Nigerian Nupe Storage Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
The Nupe people of Nigeria were known as some of the finest ceramicists in Africa. Everyday objects, like this storage vessel, received detailed attenti...
Category
Early 20th Century Primitive African Tribal Art
Materials
Terracotta
Tchokwé mask from Angola in wood and pigments - Circa 1900
Located in NICE, FR
Tchokwé mask from Angola once owned by the American Abstract Expressionist artist Merton D. Simpson (1928 - 2013) renowned both for his work and as a dealer and collector of early Af...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Kaolin, Wood
African mask Yaure tribe Ivory Coast Circa 1950
Located in Paris, FR
African mask from Yaure tribe in Ivory Coast Circa 1950. Beautiful dark patina.
Swedish private collection, from the 1980s then inherited within the family.
Yaure tribe art is renow...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Moroccan Berber Henna-Dyed Woman's Ceremonial Head Cover
Located in Milan, IT
A very finely woven wool veil used as a head scarf in the wedding ceremony among the Ait Abdallah Berber people of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas region. The pattern is obtained with the re...
Category
1930s Tribal Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Wool
Akua´ba fertility dolls, Ashanit, Ghana. 20th century
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of Akua´ba (Akuba/Akwaba) fertility dolls from Ghana. 20th century. 2 disc-headed carved figures, similar but not identical.
Good condition. Signs of wear consistent with age.
Category
20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Moroccan Folk Art Metal and Parchment Wall Shade Sconce
By Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface.
These Art pieces could...
Category
20th Century Folk Art African Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
Set of 2 Kusu (Tribal) currency from Democratic Republic of the Congo
Located in Winnetka, IL
Three Kuso Currency pieces known as Boloko are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are made from forged iron and were used as currency in commerce. Today, they are sculp...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
1930's Beaded Snuff Container. Zulu, Southern Africa
Located in London, GB
This intimately-sized 1930's Zulu snuff container has been beautifully decorated with glass beads. A circular opening features on one side, and on the other side, overlapping blue-an...
Category
1930s Tribal Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood, Beads
Hedle Pulley from the Baoulé / Baule tribe, Ivory Coast
By Baule Tribe
Located in Bilzen, BE
Baoulé / Baule loom hedle pulley from the beginning of the 20th century
Rich tribal patina and using traces
Beautiful stylization of the face
with custom base as shown in the photo...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
1940's - 1950's Pare Maternity Figure, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
This finely carved mid-twentieth century figurative sculpture, from the Pare culture in Tanzania, depicts a female with large, prominent ears. Standing in a proud, upright stance, sh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Antique Moroccan Berber Henna-Dyed Woman's Ceremonial Cover with Graffiti Motifs
Located in Milan, IT
A very finely woven wool veil used as a head scarf in the wedding ceremony among the Ait Abdallah Berber people of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas region. The pattern is obtained with the re...
Category
1930s Tribal Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Wool
Trio of Early 20th Century South African Xhosa Beaded Aprons Tribal Art
Located in Lowestoft, GB
Of Ethnographical interest, a trio of tribal beaded girls initiation apron from South Africa, likely from the Xhosa people who traditionally lived in the province of Eastern Cape.
H...
Category
Early 20th Century African Tribal Art
Materials
Steel
Superb museum quality Holo mvunzi wooden statue late 19th century Congo
Located in Leuven, BE
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 :...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Luba Royal antique caryatid enthronement emblem Mid 19th century DR Congo Africa
Located in Leuven, BE
This Luba Royal caryatid stool from DR Congo Luba was in the 19th century used a Royal enthronement emblem. Luba leaders trace their ancestry to a dynasty of sacred kings, and Luba r...
Category
Mid-19th Century Primitive Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
A Powerful Female ‘Bakorozai’ Initiation Mask
Located in London, GB
A Powerful Female ‘Bakorozai’ Initiation Mask
The brown patina testifies to the ritual use and great age of this rare mask
Wood
Loma / Guerze-Kpelle, Liberia
Late 19th Century
...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Single Ethnic Isicholo Bridal Red-Ocher Hat from South Africa, Zulu People
Located in Atlanta, GA
One Isicholo African Hats. This red-ochre dyed women's hat is from the Zulu people, South Africa, and is made of a combination of cotton, human hair over a...
Category
20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Cotton, Grasscloth
Vintage Moroccan African Ethnic Art Wall Decor
By Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface.
These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...
Category
20th Century Moorish African Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
Navy Framed Mud Cloth or Kuba Cloth in Floating Acrylic Frame Gold Standoffs
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Navy blue Kuba cloth or Mud cloth framed in acrylic with gold standoffs. Beautiful dark navy blue mud-cloth sandwiched between two pieces of custom acrylic. Four holes on the four co...
Category
1950s Tribal Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Lucite
Superb 19th century Kuba pipe DR Congo African Art Kasaï
Located in Leuven, BE
Superb 19th century Kuba pipe DR Congo
People : Kuba
Country : DR Congo, Sankuru River
Early 20th century
Wood
Length : 51 cm
This elaborately carved and ornamented tobacco pipe wa...
Category
Early 20th Century African Tribal Art
Materials
Palmwood
Oromo Igbo African Gourd
Located in Winnetka, IL
This African piece was made by the oromo igbo people of ethiopia
It is a gourd with weaved fiber and metal covering it with intricate design and patterns
It has a lid with it which is usually not found
It definately has age but not sure of its exact year
This vessel is a lovely african artifact...
Category
Early 20th Century African Tribal Art
Materials
Metallic Thread
Bamileke Mask With Attached Original Sotheby's Receipt from 1979, Cameroon
Located in London, GB
This fine and early Bamileke mask, carved from a heavy hardwood, features a vibrant expression. The surface of the mask exhibits a deep, well-worn patina...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Genuine brass figure from thje Songye tribe, DR Congo, first half 20th Century
By Songye Tribe
Located in Bilzen, BE
A genuine figure from the Songye tribe DR Congo cast in brass dating from the beginning to the middle of the 20th century.
The casting is done in sand and the figure has never been c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Brass
Guere Mask from Cote d'Ivoire Africa with Sotheby's Sticker
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Guere wood mask with paint and fiber remnant from We people displayed on a metal stand. The We people (also known as the Krahn or Guere) are an indigenous African people that inhabit areas in nowadays eastern Liberia and western Côte d'Ivoire. Their material culture shares many aspects with the neighboring Dan tribe. Like the Dans, the We use a wide variety of masquerades, which hold important regulatory position within their small, egalitarian communities. Masks are owned by families and used by individual lineage members in contexts of social control, ritual ceremony and entertainment. This type of Guere mask, however, has a distinct fearsome character. The ferocious design with jagged facial expression, bulging tubular eyes are intended for use in mediations between community members, as visual aids during moral lessons, as well as forms of entertainment. By portraying the more frightening nature of the animal, the mask is viewed as powerful and may have been used as part of social control methods prior to the introduction of Western law systems during the colonial period.
The mask on offer, based on our examination, appears to be an original one that was used natively instead of reproduction made for the tourist market. The surface presents apparently genuine patina consistent with use. The red paint that highlights the eyes and gapping mouth also appear original. There are small losses flanking the nose ridge by the eyes, extensive surface accretion, remain of some fiber tassels. The back of the mask reveals chisel marks from hand tools and importantly, stain marks that were likely from repetitive contacts from the nose of the wearer.
The mask is 9" in height, and it retains an old Sotheby’s catalog...
Category
20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Toposa Shield, Southern Sudan
Located in San Francisco, CA
An early 20th century animal hide, wood and leather tops shield from Southern Sudan.
Category
Early 20th Century African Tribal Art
Materials
Hide, Leather, Wood
19th Century Ethiopian Saddle-Shaped Stool
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
19th Century Tribal Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Superb museum quality Antique Lobi or Bwa stool Burkina Faso / Mali
Located in Leuven, BE
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 ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Yoruba Osanyin Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Steel, Iron
Bamana N'tomo mask, Mali, 20th century
Located in NICE, FR
Bamana N'tomo mask, Mali, 20th century
"Generally surmounted by three to eight horns forming a comb, the N'tomoface mask refers to a moment of compulsory education given to uncircumcised young boys in certain West African societies. The mask's discreet, even absent, mouth emphasizes the behavior expected of them in their future adult life after training: controlling and measuring their words, knowing how to keep quiet, preserving secrets and enduring pain in silence."
Excerpt from Masques du N'tomo, Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière Collection, Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac, France.
The Bambara, or Bamana, live in central and southern Mali. Their name means “unbeliever” and was given to them by the Muslims. Animists, they believe in the existence of a creator god called Ngala, who maintains the order of the universe and coexists with another androgynous god called Faro, master of the Word, who gave all qualities to mankind and makes the fruits of the earth grow. Traditional Bamana art objects are closely linked to agrarian rites.
The Bamana dance these masks during initiation and circumcision ceremonies for young boys in the Ntomo society. The face, with its vertical outgrowths at the top, adopts geometric features beneath a rounded forehead, including an imposing busted nose, as the Bamana favor this organ in their statuary as it evokes sociability and clan cohesion. Indeed, during choreography, the dancer frequently touches the nose of the mask.
As teaching aids for candidates, masks from societies accessible to young boys and adults, such as the N'tomo, Korè and Ci wara...
Category
1930s Tribal Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Figurative Ax From The Tshokwe / Chokwe / Lwena Tribe DR Congo Early 20th Angola
Located in Leuven, BE
Figurative Ax From The Tshokwe / Chokwe / Lwena Tribe - DR Congo Early 20th century
Tribe : Tshokwe / Lwena
Country DR Congo or Angola
Period: ca 1920
Copper blade
Handle in wood len...
Category
Early 20th Century African Tribal Art
Materials
Copper
Antique Moroccan Berber Henna-Dyed Woman's Ceremonial Head Scarf
Located in Milan, IT
A very finely woven wool veil of an unusual format, sparsely embellished with touches of embroidery, used as a head cover in the wedding ceremony among the Ait Abdallah Berber people...
Category
1930s Tribal Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Wool
Yoruba Omo Bell, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This four-sided brass face bell, known as omo, was created by an artisan of the Ijebu Yoruba People of Southern Nigeria. A mark of the wearer's rank and power, the bell would have be...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
Fine Traditional Doll. Nyamwezi, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
The body consisting of a gourd in a beautiful form and decorated with a simple contrasting band of old glass beads of white, red and blue.
A piece with a wonderful form that was tra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
Early 20th Century Female Figure. Lwena/Chokwe, Angola-Zambia
Located in London, GB
This early twentieth-century figurative sculpture, from the Lwena/Chokwe culture in the Angola-Zambia Border Region, depicts a female standing in an upright stance.
A defining char...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
Mid-20th Century Beaded Neck Adornment and Apron. Pokot, Kenya
Located in London, GB
Among the Pokot, body adornments are visual signifiers of power, wealth and status within the community. Given as a gift to a new bride by her husband, this finely beaded neck adornm...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
Ethiopian Carved Wooden Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
So as not to muss their intricate hairstyles while sleeping, Ethiopian women would traditionally rest their heads on these petite wooden stands. The combination of conic base and con...
Category
Early 20th Century Primitive African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Swazi Headrest With Old Label Attached, Southern Africa
Located in London, GB
The form of this Swazi headrest consists of an upper section supported by two tapering legs, fluted with vertical grooves.
A central lug features on the underside of the headrest, ...
Category
20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Rubbing Oracle Of The Kuba/Bushoong Tribe, Dr Congo, 1st Half Of The 20th Centur
By Kuba
Located in Bilzen, BE
A rubbing oracle from the Kuba tribe DR Congo carved in wood with a strong expression
Patina tribal use
Length 31.5 cm, height 5 cm
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Dogon Tribe Hardwood Carved Rhythm Pounder from Mali, Africa
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Museum quality Dogon tribe ironwood percussion pounder reportedly collected from a Tellem cave in the Bandiagara Escarpment in Mali. Collected in the late 1970’s with approximate age...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Bamileke Figurative Round Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Marked by the telltale Bamileke rounded disc seat and base, this stool features a group of pondering human figures as its vertical supports instead of the more common abstract carvin...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category
Early 20th Century Minimalist African Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
1960s Moroccan Vintage Ethnic Orange Organic Wool Rug Africa
By Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1960s authentic Moroccan vintage tribal organic wo rug, earth orange tone cors, Handwoven by the Berber women of the Middle Atlas of Morocco. Geometrical abstract designs, great clector pile ethnic carpet...
Category
1960s Tribal Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Wool
19th Century Bronze Gold Weight Depicting a Traditional Hunter. Akan, Ghana
Located in London, GB
This Akan gold weight depicts a traditional hunter, smoking a pipe. He is shown holding a knife, with a second knife secured in his belt. A musket is balanced over his shoulder, and ...
Category
19th Century Tribal Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Traditional African Sculpture of Mursi Woman with Lip Plate - Ethiopia
Located in Barueri, SP, BR
This stunning bronze golden-colored sculpture, crafted in Ethiopia, represents a Mursi woman, embodying Ethiopian craftsmanship's rich cultural heritage and artistic expression. The piece is striking and thought-provoking, featuring a meticulously sculpted bust with distinctive cultural elements. The sculpture pays homage to the Mursi women of Ethiopia, encapsulating their strength, resilience, and beauty.
The sculpture presents a fascinating fusion of realism and abstraction, with finely detailed facial features and textured elements. The golden finish adds a regal quality, making it an eye-catching centerpiece in any collection. It showcases traditional craftsmanship with a modern interpretation, making it a rare and valuable piece of African art.
Background and History
Like many indigenous groups across Africa, Mursi women have played vital roles in shaping their societies. Ethiopian art...
Category
20th Century African Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Moroccan Vintage Tribal Safran Organic Wool Rug
By Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan vintage tribal organic wool rug, Safran earth tone colors,
Handwoven by the Berber women of the Middle Atlas of Morocco.
Geometrical abstract designs, great collector pi...
Category
1960s Folk Art Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Wool
Senufo Locking Currency Bracelet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Time honored texture and form define this Senufo sculptural object. The abstract etchings were achieved through a process known as scarification. The artisan meticulously traced and ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Copper
Fine Female 'Biteki' Figure (Ex Romy Rey Collection)
Located in London, GB
This beautifully carved 'Biteki' figure, from the Yaka culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, depicts a female crowned with a large, abstracted coiffure. The figure exhibit...
Category
20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century, Jewish Velvet and Goldthread Cape
Located in Brecht, BE
A rare find this 19th century green velvet and goldthread ceremonial jewish cape,
from Morocco.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Velvet
Pair of 'Reunited' 1930's Bamileke Anthropomorphic Flutes, Cameroon
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Judaica Moroccan Berber Carpet with Stars of David
Located in Milan, IT
A rare and unusual Berber carpet from the Rehamna area, located in the plains near Marrakesh, distinguished by an orange background decorated uniquely by two vertical arrangements of conjoined diamond placed at the extreme sides of the field. What is quite unusual is the presence of three stars of David embellishing the center of the field, indicating that the carpet was possibly woven for a Moroccan Jewish...
Category
1950s Tribal Vintage African Tribal Art
Materials
Wool
African Currency of the AFO People from Nigeria on a Metal Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful, museum quality display stand of a late 19th century Hoe or Shovel currency. Four available for individual purchase.
Category
19th Century Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
19th Century Igbo Spiral Copper Alloy Arm Adornment/Currency, Nigeria
Located in London, GB
Cast into a beautiful coiled form, this copper alloy Igbo woman's arm adornment from Nigeria was also used as a form of currency. This 19th century piece has developed a lovely green...
Category
19th Century Tribal Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Copper
Toussian Storage Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Ovoid pots were an elegant storage solution in African tribal life. This beautifully balanced example is attributed to the Toussian people of Western Burkina Faso. Masterfully made to protect its contents from the elements, pots such as this one were coiled by female ceramists to hold food or personal...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Ceramic
Moroccan Ethnic Berber Handwoven Pillow
By Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan Ethnic Berber handwoven tribal throw pillow made from a vintage rug.
The front and the back are made from a different rug, front is more...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Wool
Sleep Guardian or Kata Sergo Ethiopia TOTEM 1 in Solid Natural Cedar Wood
Located in Paris, FR
TOTEM 1 sleep guardian or Kata Sergo from the ethnic
Gorague´, South / South West Ethiopia. Different ridges
are intended to evacuate the bad vibes from the fireplace
to the top h...
Category
19th Century Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Abstract primitive head Fragment of a Dogon Sculpture."
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A beautifully patined Dogon fragment of a head sculpture. Because of its natural wear perhaps even being more abstract and natural. As African art inspired the European modernist mov...
Category
Early 20th Century Primitive African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Small 19th Century Kamba Elder's Chair With Beaded Lizard Motif, Kenya
Located in London, GB
High-backed chairs of any form are rare in Kenya. This small elder’s chair, consisting of and a dome-shaped backrest, is supported by four legs.
The back ...
Category
19th Century Tribal Antique African Tribal Art
Materials
Wood, Beads
Terracotta Bura Spirit Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Sometimes called a "Bura bell" due to its shape, this sculptural terra cotta object was part of the Bura tribe's burial ritual. Buried with its flared mouth facing down, this cylindrical storage...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal African Tribal Art
Materials
Terracotta
