African Tribal Art

Marroquin forged steel dagger with sheath. Beautiful koummya dagger with a sheath from the region of Morocco, circa 1870. The blade was created with forged steel, mounted in wood an...

An Exceptional Eastern Cape Nguni Pipe Bowl and Stem Wood, metal Old inscription and dated: ‘1892’ South Africa 19th Century Size: 45.5cm long - 18 ins long Published: ‘The ...

A Songye Male ‘Power’ Figure Open aperture to the head and stomach Fine overall patina, loss to feet Democratic Republic of Congo 19th Century Size: 23cm high - 9 ins high The ...

A Rare and Extremely Fine South African Tsonga Prestige Staff by the ‘Baboon Master’ Depicting a Zulu elder wearing a head-ring Superb silky reddish brown patina Late 19th Century ...

A Nomoli is a carved stone figurine native to Sierra Leone and Liberia. They are usually made of soapstone, limestone, or granite. The carving depicts a man holding his belly with a...

19th-century bronze currency bangle / Manilla with a fixed opening. Minimalist, simple design work with engraved geometrical circles and lines. This type of bracelet was used and wor...

A Nomoli is a carved stone figurine native to Sierra Leone and Liberia. They are usually made of soapstone, limestone, or granite. The carving depicts a woman in a dress and choker,...

Yoruba people have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, twin children are regarded as extraordinary, divine beings protected by Sango, the deity of ...

Manillas are horse-shoe shaped, made of an open circle of bronze, brass, or copper with enlarged finial terminations. They were used as a currency in West African countries from the ...

19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical swirled rope work design and tips are shaped with large flat ends with geome...

19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical design with lines and accent points on the top and at both tips. This type o...

19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical swirl design and tips are shaped with large flat ends with cross pattern des...

19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical design with a lattice pattern. This type of bracelet was worn or used by the...

Early to mid-19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in circle form. Intricate graphical geometrical. This type of bracelet was worn/used by the Zaghawa People also called Bé...

Early to mid-19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in circle form. Intricate graphical geometrical. This type of bracelet was worn/used by the Zaghawa People also called Bé...

19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical swirl design and tips are shaped with large flat ends with 5 beads on each s...

A fine Zulu head rest neck rest South Africa Raised on central pillars with geometric lozenge shaped carving all over. Measures: 22 x 14 x 5 cm approx. Period Early 20th century Ex U...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

Carved from a single piece of dense, heavy wood, this nineteenth-century Gurage low-set chair from Ethiopia exhibits an unusual, rare form. Consisting of a circular double-tiered seat with an angled, reclining back-support, the chair exhibits a deep glossy surface patina, particularly on the back-support and seat as a result of use. The chair is functional, and is reasonably comfortable to sit on. ‍Estimated Period: 19th Century Ex Private Family Collection, Addis Ababa...

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...

An Unusually Large and Fine Tsonga ‘Antelope’ Headrest Wood, pigment, glass beads Zimbabwe 19th Century SIZE: 20cm high, 32cm wide - 8 ins high, 12½ ins wide PROVENANCE: Ex Pri...

This amazing nineteenth-century high-backed chair, from the Gurage culture in Ethiopia, has many unusual characteristics. The solid, bowl-shaped seat of the chair is supported by thr...

Very rare Ancient And Exceptional Anthropomorphic Statue From The Pende Tribe Country : DRCongo Kasaï Region Age : late 19th century Height : 48 cm Excellent condition / missing t...

A superb antique 19th century Bamana / Bambara female statue from Mali People : Bamana / Bambara Country : Mali Age : 19th century The anthropomorf jonyelini / jo female statue has...

Old / Authentic And Rare Nkishi Statue Songye / Dream People - Dr Congo African Art Period: Late 19th century Height: 17 cm Very beautiful red patina...

Congolese Textile Tetela DR Congo 19th century Measures: 68 x 41 inches (172 x 104 cm) Provenance: Ambre-Congo gallery, Brussels $5,000. A very rare ...

The price is for an individual currency and includes a stand. The custom stands can display the currencies horizontally with the rounded point facing to the left or right or mounted vertically. Please specify your preference. The shape of a Mfunte currency has a seemingly simple yet complex design. The forged iron surface was scratched in an end-to-end direction to create a visually interesting surface, a central raised vein to create two sections, and swelling was incorporated on the front at the straight end. The aging of the iron has further added to the texture and attractiveness of the design. Colonial coinage replaced Africa's traditional iron currencies...

Copper crosses called Handa, Katanga region, Republic of Congo, 19th century. Cast copper in the shape of an equal-armed cross used as a form of curren...

Exceptional Gbilija Shield from the Zande tribe- DR CONGO Museum Quality Very rare piece in perfect condition. Exceptional piece and museum quality (see photos please) Period: 19th C...

An exceptional and very rare prestige ibia axe DR Congo/Brazzaville of the Teke /Mfinu and Laali people. Axes like these type belonged to the Teke chiefs / Kings A museum quality and...

This captivating set of three 19th century West African bronze currency manillas, elegantly displayed on a custom mount, serves as a fascinatin...

Rare Mbili currency used in the Ngbaka, Lobala and Bangala tribes in Congo. Circa Early 1800s, this spear point form is made in iron. It was used as a ma...

A rare find this 19th century green velvet and goldthread ceremonial jewish cape, from Morocco.

19th century African hand carved wood chair w/ leather goatskin hide woven webbing in original as found antique condition with no restorations. ...

This very massive, exceptional mortar is hand carved from a lovely rust couloured iron wood. It was made in the 19th century on the African continent, possibly in Ghana. The bowl's s...

This unique antique mortar with pestle was probably carved out of a cedar trunk at the end of the 19th century. One of a kind surface with great patina.    

Luba Figure Kakudji D.R. Congo Wood, fibre, beads, textile 28 cm On a professional wooden stand Provenance: - Lucas Ratton, Paris, France - Zem...

A very rare find this mid 19th century unique berber scarf, sublime natural dye colors.

Fulani, Nigeria Hand-cast brass beads on a hand-woven cord 19th century Measures: 17 in. / 43 cm 8 oz. / 227 g.

A fine shona head rest neck rest Raised on a single central pillar finely carved with geometric designs Shona Zimbabwe Measures: Height 5 inches, width 6...

19th century African Nupe people Nigeria door panel. Hand carved wood w/ animals, objects, symbols in relief w/ original beautifully aged original surface color patina.. Genuinely ol...

This is a very good example of a 19th century Zanzibar storage chest. The chest was created in the mid-19th century. The teak case is adorned with cut and open work brass strapping i...

Zulu /  Nguni Pipe Group South Africa Carved wood with metal liners, one rare very large sized pipe Lengths 14, 8, 7 inches  36, 20, 17.5 cm Period Late 19th early 20th century.

West African Akan Terracotta Commemorative memorial portrait Head Ghana Terracotta with red slip 8 1/2 x 7 inches, 21.5 x 18 cm, Period 19th century or earlier. Provence : jean Dave...

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