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Place of Origin: Congolese
Old African Songye Female Kifwebe Wall Mask with Expressive Face Large Sized
Located in Torquay, GB
Large sized Songye Female Kifwebe mask from The Congo circa 1920s.
Traditionally, the Kifwebe mask is very symbolic in the Bantu culture of central Africa.
Its striking colours and carving symbolise the battle between good and evil.
Female Kifwebe masks represent femininity, the continuation of life and a good omen.
These masks were used for wedding ceremonies, reproduction rituals and other such occasions.
This large mask...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Tribal Textile, Kuba Shoowa 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
An outstanding example of an early 20th century Kuba Prestige cloth, with variations of the endless knot motif, called Imbol by the Kuba.
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber, Raffia
Songye Nkisi Power Figure
Located in London, GB
A rare and large hand carved horned Songye Nkisi power figure. A ‘Nkisi’ is a protective power figure of the Songye, southeastern Congo. Such sculptures are used as a major role in t...
Category
20th Century Primitive Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
20th Century Prestige Cloth, Shoowa, Kuba Kingdom, D. R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
20th century Prestige cloth, Shoowa people, Kuba Kingdom, D. R. Congo
A syncopated pattern of opposing forces lends this prestige cloth a sense of movement both horizontally and v...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Old Copper Coins of Congo, Africa / Rare Objects / Folk Art/20th century
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old African coin.
Before paper money and money were in circulation, bartering was taking place in Africa.
Various goods such as textiles, fea...
Category
20th Century Other Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Copper
Tribal Textile, Kuba Shoowa 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
An example of the continuation of the Kuba design tradition into the late 20th century. Technically superb, an amalgamation of traditional patterns interpreted by contemporary artist...
Category
Late 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Antique Congolese African Tribal Carved Hemba Helmet Mask, Suku Peoples
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce antique African tribal carved Hemba helmet mask, the Suku peoples, possibly Kwese culture, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa, early 20th century, surmounted by four-legged animal, over round face, with mouth ajar and incised jagged teeth exposed, protruding almond shaped eyes, scattered remnants of pigment, full raffia fiber fringe, mounted on wood stand.
A superb museum quality example, this remarkable tribal folk art sculpture is a wonderful way to add rustic warmth, rich historical depth, and fascinating cultural interest to any space!
Dimensions: (approx)
Overall: 26" High, 9" Wide, 10.25" Deep;
Mask only: 15" Tall;
7 lbs total
Provenance / Acquisition:
Acquired from the highly reputable auction house, Austin Auction Gallery, est.1983, Austin, Texas.
Excellent Condition:
Nicely aged distressed patina over the whole. Highly desirable wear consistent with age and indicative of use, including scattered losses, antique character marks and typical signs of aging throughout. Retaining scattered remnants of original pigment. Overall a superb museum quality example
Primitive Arts Of Africa:
Among the Suku of the southwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, masks plays crucial role in protecting boys during initiation, the vulnerable period between boyhood and manhood. The power contained in Hemba masks...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia, Wood
Tribal Style Songye Kifwebe Mask, D. R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
This graphic Songye Kifwebe mask has fine carved lines curved over the eyes and diagonal lines radiating from the nose and mouth in classic Kifwebe form. ...
Category
Late 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Kuba Shoowa Textile 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Shoowa Prestige Cloth
D.R.Congo, Kuba (Shoowa) People
Mid 20th century
Raffia, natural dyes, cut pile embroidery
61 x 53.5 cm (24″ x 21”)
Provenance: Pierre Loos Collection, Bru...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Mid-20th Century Cut-Pile Raffia Panel, Shoowa People, Kuba, D.R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Cut-Pile Raffia Panel, Shoowa People, a northern group of the Kuba, D.R. Congo
A fascinating example of a cut-pile prestige cloth from the Shoowa people,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
African Spear Currency on Stands
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a pair of vintage African spear currencies from the Mbole peoples, Democratic Republic of Congo which are nicely presented upon custom m...
Category
20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Metal, Iron
Tribal Textile, Kuba Shoowa 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
A late 19th or early 20th century Kuba Prestige cloth, mostly embroidered with cut pile borders.
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Songye Female Wood Figure with horn and brass hair ex Sothebys
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Carved wood standing female figure with projecting stomach, attached horn on top of head, and hair in form of small hand shaped copper pieces. Old glass beads...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
African Tribal Benin Brass Armlets Nigeria Antique Jewelry
Located in London, GB
Benin brass Armlets or Anklets
A pair of heavy Brass armlets with three rows of cowrie shells, Certainly a well worn pair
one slightly twisted. They have been cleaned at some point.
Rare pieces. Benin 19th century and earlier.
For similar pair see re thinking pit Pitt Rivers pit rivers museum online collection Oxford UK.
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Kuba Mask African Bwoom Tribal Congo in Wood, Vibrates Vegetables, Animal Hair
Located in Milano, IT
The African Kuba Bwoom tribal mask is the oldest known mask, the Kuba bwoom mask. The materials used for the realization of the Mask are: Wood, colors and vibrates plants, caures, beads, animal hair. In dance it expresses exuberance and joy. The style is similar to that of the middle Kasai. This mask is a helmet with animal hair, carved with a very wide forehead and hollow cheeks that are announced by motifs or dashes and beads. The mouth of the mask is very pronounced carved in wood and then applied on the mask. To distinguish the forehead in different areas are used black and white beads to draw attention to other aspects of the face such as the nose and chin. The entire edge of the chin is surrounded by beads of various colors. The person wearing the mask cannot look because there are no holes for the eyes present; the mask must create the feeling of being blind. Some masks similar to the bwoom mask include the funny mask, the ram mask and initiation masks such as Nnup.
The real Kuba masks...
Category
1620s Tribal Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Animal Skin, Organic Material, Wood
Poto African Iron Sword, Congo Africa on Stand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Poto African sword, Congo Africa on stand.
A forged iron sword with fine incised design, inlaid brass dots, overlaid brass strips, finely carved wood ha...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wrought Iron
Early Ghost Like Kumu Mask With Kaolin Open Eyes Mouth Teeth Congo Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Ghost Like Kumu Mask With Kaolin Open Eyes Mouth Teeth, Congo, Africa
It is in good condition with wear, polish and erosion from traditional use, appropriate for its age, use,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Yaka Standing Wood Janus Male/Female Divination Figure DRC Congo, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Yaka Carved wood standing Janus back to back male/female divination figure DRC Congo, Africa.
Male figure side with open mouth with exposed carved teeth. Female side with traces of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Antique And Exceptional Kipinga Throwing Knife Ngbaka Bwaka Ngombe Tribe Congo
Located in Leuven, BE
Old And Exceptional Kipinga Throwing Knife Ngbaka Ngombe Tribe Congo Central Africa
Tribe: Ngbaka / Ngombe / Bwaka
Region: DR CONGO / Central African Republic
Length = 43 cm
Period: ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
Kuba Woman's Ceremonial Skirt, D.R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Noblewoman's Skirt.
Kuba People, DR Congo.
Raffia palm fiber, appliqué, embroidery.
Measures: 146 x 31 inches (371 x 79 cm).
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia
Luba People Caryatid Stool Democratic Republic Congo Central Africa
Located in Rochester, NY
Old Luba People stool hand carved from a single piece of tree wood w/ caryatid female ancestral figure as the central support. Showing good signs of genuine age and beautiful old sur...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Pair of Monumental Topoke African Currency Spears on Museum Stands, Late 19th C.
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressive pair of late 19th century extra-long African currency spears—properly referred to as liganda or ngbele—from the Topoke, Turumbu, or Lokele peoples and related cultures in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, presented on museum-caliber custom made black pedestal display stands.
A liganda’s monetary value was determined primarily by its length, and based on the monumental size of the pair offered here, they would’ve been classified as dihunga liganda—the largest of those made—and used for important events or transactions such as wedding dowries or the purchase of livestock or a canoe.
Each dihunga liganda is comprised of two hand-forged, hand-wrought, and hand-worked thin melded iron pieces that in whole form a sword-like spear with winged elements that smoothly transition to a blade terminating in an elongated tip. Middle ridge with parallel linear decorations on both sides follow the left edge of the blade and the perimeter of the wings.
Narrow cylindrical shaft at bottom would’ve originally allowed it to be mounted on a pole or planted in the ground. Both dihunga liganda display a very handsome and desirable amount of uniform natural patina and character throughout.
Created and exchanged by the Turumbu originally, as well as by the Topoke, Lokele, Bambole, Wagenia, and Bajurnu peoples of the Isangi, Kisangani, Lomami, Lualaba, and other nearby regions of central Africa until around 1920, at which point the use of liganda as currency was banned by the Belgian colonial powers in control at the time.
Presented on commanding museum-quality custom made matte black wood pedestal display...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Steel, Iron, Wrought Iron
Ngbaka Congolese Tribal Mask for Initiation Rituals, Early 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
With a beautiful dark patina, this early 20th century wooden mask shows a naturalistic human face, flattened, with the forehead, open mouth and stylised teeth in light relief; the ri...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Tetela Textile, DR Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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 ...
Category
1880s Tribal Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Kuba Iron Currency Spear, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
While shield and spear were central to African combat, this iron example was most likely made to serve as a piece of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies were modeled after objects of inherent value, resulting in sculptural combinations of function and beauty.
This large iron spear dates to the early 20th century and is attributed to the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Secured to a narrow handle of iron and wood, the flattened blade has an elegant, sloping silhouette, subtly textured with raised lines and a rusted, antique patina. Forged as a broadleaf spear, the weapon contrasts a violent potential with images of peaceful branches swaying in the wind. We've set this unusual Kuba spear...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
African Textile Showa Kuba also for Backrest Cover
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Vintage African Kuba textile, suitable for a modern wall panel, on a long table or to make pillows.
Handwoven and hand-dyed raffia fabric -
An IDEA: ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia
Mid-20th Century Globular Vessel, Mangbetu People, D. R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mid-20th Century Globular Vessel, Mangbetu People, D. R. Congo
An unusually large and striking non-figurative vessel from the Mangbetu people, comprised of six lobes joined to a c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Dance Skirt Panel, Kuba, D.R.Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mid-20th Century Dance Skirt Panel, Kuba, D.R.Congo
A wonderful, almost op-art Kuba dance skirt panel with an appliqued design of four squared spirals. Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
18th Century Ngelima Bronze Currency Piece on Custom Steel Mount
Located in Chicago, IL
This rare 18th-century Ngelima bronze currency manilla is a stunning artifact, weighing an impressive 20 pounds of solid bronze. Adorned with intricate incised line drawings at its e...
Category
18th Century Tribal Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Noblewoman's Ceremonial Overskirt, Kuba People
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Noblewoman’s Ceremonial Overskirt
Shoowa People, DR Congo
Mid 20th century
Raffia, palm fiber, stem stitch and cut pile embroidery
42.5 x 2 ins. (108 x 51 cm)
An unusual overskirt ...
Category
1950s Tribal Vintage Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia
Early small Kuba Cup With Refined Face, Fine Hair, Handle DRC, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Small sweet early Kuba Cup with refinedf face, finely carved hair, with a handle, from the DRC, Africa
Finely incised hair in tight geometric form, small proj...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
19th century DR CONGO African shield tribe Ngbandi Yakoma Ubangi 1880-1900 Art
Located in Leuven, BE
Art Gallery Decoster presents a :
19th century exclusive antique African Ngbandi war shield
A top quality / Museum quality extremely rare shield !!!
Big sized high quality rare shiel...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wicker
Old Yaka Slit Drum, Deep Patina, Original Striker Congo Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old early Yaka slit drum, deep patina wear and polish from years of use, with original striker. From the Yaka people, Democratic Republic of Congo, early 20t...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Large Buyu Protection Figure Democratic Republic Congo Africa
Located in Rochester, NY
Old Buyu male ancestral protection power figure showing good signs of genuine age w/ beautiful old color patina. Democratic Republic Congo, Africa. Mid 20th. Measures 32" h x 10" w x...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Early Incised Carved Gourd Rattle From Congo Africa Man Zebra Crocodile Rhino
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Incised Carved One-piece Gourd Rattle from Congo Africa.
Great (unknown) stories shown including a man, snake, two rhinos, a zebra (?) crocodile and on the other side a long s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
20th Century African Songye Nkishi Kifwebe Figure, Democratic Republic of Congo
Located in London, GB
For sale is this wonderful vintage African hand-carved Kifwebe association Figure (or "N'kishi"), originating from the Songye people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly the...
Category
Late 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
A Songye Male ‘Power’ Figure
Located in London, GB
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 ...
Category
19th Century Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Small early Kuba Cup With Sweet Face, Fine Hair, Handle DRC, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Small early Kuba Cup With Sweet Face, Fine Hair, Handle DRC, Africa
Finely carved hair in tight geometric form, small projecting ears. Some damage and wear t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Ancient Cubist Danced Kuba Mask Black Patina Cone Eyes Congo Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Ancient Cubist Kuba Dance Mask Black Patina, Cone Shaped Eyes, from the Congo, Africa.
It is in good condition with wear, polish and erosion from traditional use, appropriate for it...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Old Worn Kuba Tribal Platter Incised Design, Early 20th Century, Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Sweet worn, polished and smoothed Kuba ceremonial serving platter with handle and incised Classic royal Kuba knot pattern on one side.
Cra...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Mid Century Sculpture African bust in wenge - Congo
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Mid Century Sculpture African bust in wenge - Congo
Bimbulu Signed - Ethnic African
Measures : 24x16cm H:47cm
Weight : ~5kg
Category
20th Century Folk Art Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Two Tribal Bronze Konga Anklet Leg Band
Located in North Hollywood, CA
An early 20th century antique African tribal leg band (ankle bracelet),
These leg bands were both currency and status symbols for the Mongo tribe of northwest Congo.
They were ma...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Old Pende giwoyo Red Mask with Beard and Woven Raffia Hair Cap Congo Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old Pende giwoyo mask with red pigments, black and white beard with carved triangles and woven black raffia hair cap
The mask is 13 1/4 inches high, on custom...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Organic Material, Wood
African Textile Showa Kuba
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Rare vintage African Kuba Textile, suitable for a modern wall panel, on a long table ; perfect as headboard.
Handwoven and hand dyed raffia fabric.
An IDEA: use this item as backrest...
Category
Mid-20th Century Archaistic Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia
Ancient African Wooden Stool
Located in Soho, London, GB
Ancient wooden stool with four feet dating to the 19th century. From Congo, Africa.
Provenance: Galerie Démons et Merveilles, Paris; Private Collection, United Kingdom.
Category
19th Century Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Lega Bwami Society Mask on Display Stand with Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
On offer is a Lega Bwami society wooden mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was likely from the first half of the 20th century and an authentic in-field piece. The mask di...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Old and Well Used Luba Wood Medicine Mortar with Classic Face, DRC Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old and well used Luba wood medicine mortar with classic carved Luba face, DRC Africa.
The mortar is heavily worn and polished outside from many years of use, and the inside shows de...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
African Topoke Iron Currency Blade, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
While shield and spear were central to African combat, this iron sword blade was most likely made to serve as a piece of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies were...
Category
Early 20th Century Minimalist Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
19th or Early 20th Century Tribal Copper Snake Currency Sculpture Zaire Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
19th or early 20th century copper snake currency sculpture Zaire Africa
Ngelima culture, Zaire, hand-forged, copper rod in an anthropomorphic styli...
Category
Late 19th Century Other Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Copper
Kuba Dye-Resist Tcaka Textile
Located in Chicago, IL
Visually dynamic and highly textured, this raffia textile expresses the irregular, geometric patterns typical of Kuba textile art. Created by an artisan of the Kuba people of the Dem...
Category
20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia
Early Pende Giwoyo Mask with Strong Face and Woven Black Raffia Hair Cap
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old Pende giwoyo mask with traces of yellow, black and red pigments and woven black raffia hair cap. Strong face with tight expression, weathered surface, goo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Organic Material, Wood
Art of Africa Treasures from the Congo Hardcover Table Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Reference book on the art of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).
180 mounted color illustrations + numerous b&w illustrations.
large heavy book, weight: 8 lbs
Art of Africa: Treasures from the Congo
Cornet, Joseph
Published by Phaidon Press, Ltd., London (1971...
Category
Late 20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Paper
Exceptional Rare Knife/Sword From The Luba / Luluwa /Nkutshu Tribe DR Congo
Located in Leuven, BE
Exceptional Rare Knife/Sword From The Luba / Luluwa /Nkutshu Tribe DR Congo - circa 1900
Tribe: Luba / Luluwa / Nkutshu
A unique museum piece
DR Congo
Period: 19th Century - ca 1900...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
Midcentury African Tribal Wooden Sculptural Commando Staff RDC Luba, 1960s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Kusu command rod
This prestigious staff among chieftain regalia is composed of different carved sections that form an iconographic language related to the history of the ancestor or...
Category
1960s Tribal Vintage Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Woven Mat, Kuba People
Located in Point Richmond, CA
A Kuba mat from the Kasai region of the D.R.Congo
These were used on the ground, there are photos showing the Kuba King seated on similar ones.
Raffia cord is wrapped around the thic...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia, Palmwood
20th Century Bark Cloth Painting, Mbuti 'Efe' People, D.R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
20th Century bark cloth painting, Mbuti (Efe) people, Ituri Forest, D. R. Congo
A painted barkcloth from the Efe people in the Ituri forest of no...
Category
1970s Tribal Vintage Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Pair of African Spear Currencies on Stands
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a pair of vintage African spear currencies from the Mbole peoples, Democratic Republic of Congo which are nicely presented upon custom m...
Category
20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
African Kuba Helmet Mask on Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Helmet Mask known as Bwoon from the Kuba Tribe in the Kasai region of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa circa mid-20th century. The carved wood mask was decorated with copper plates on the face, and lavished embellished with trade beads, raffia cloth with cowrie shells and hanging seed pods, fur possibly from monkey. The surface and the interior both display good patina indicates a native use (contact rubbing) and age.
Bwoom is one of three types of royal Kuba masks...
Category
20th Century Tribal Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Copper
