Hand-Carved Tribal Art

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 ...

Bamana old original pair Chi Wara headdress. Chi Wara (Antelope Headdress.) The dry savanna permits no more than a subsistence economy and the soil produces,...

Akan, Ghana, shrine figure, a standing female figure with black hair and details, remains of white pigment, with arms out holding a bottle, includes custom metal base. Probably a fig...

Antique Moroccan tribal Folk Art Berber wool comb. 19th century, nice patina, Museum collector piece.

A splendid and rare Amazon indigenous wamara wood Macana war-club Southern-Guyana or Northern Brazil, Wapitxana group of the Aruak peoples, 18th century, possibly earlier Measure: H. 43 cm The deep patina of the club present, and the residue on the part where it was held, attest to its great age. This unusually large Macana is decorated with several incised whitened anthropomorphic and human figures, a decoration only found on one other documented club in the British Museum, which is illustrated in: Hjalmar Stolpe, Amazon Indian...

Powerful early cubist carved wood standing female figure from the Bobo-Fing of Burkina Faso, Africa. Created early 20th century. Ex private collection Texas, originally acquired from James Willis...

A rare and beautifully aged Lobi tribal chair from Burkina Faso, dating to the early 1900s. Hand-carved from a single piece of hardwood, this sculptural piece reflects the refined mi...

Standing Akan Ghana female figure, early 20th century, Africa. Intense expression with large eyes. Female figure with one hand on her breast, representing p...

Early carved wood small Salampasu Warrior's Mask, Zaire, Africa early 20th century, remains of black and white pigments, on custom stand. Mask 10", height on stand 14" strong angul...

Striking Makonde animal helmet mask, dog or hyena, Tanzania. Early 20th century with dark patina from traditional tribal use, wear inside from being used. Finely carved features, wit...

Interesting African tribal sculpted statue made of iron or lead. It almost appears that the materials used were taken from a sunken ship. Look closely at...

Add a piece of African history to your home. This is large and evocative of ancient times and ceremonies. Weathered wood mask fragment, Bambara people, Mali, Africa, late 19th-early ...

An early to mid-20th century Toguna support post from the Dogon Tribe of Mali, on custom metal stand. This West African hand carved wooden bean was origin...

"Ndoma” Baule Portrait Mask, Ivory Coast, Circa 1930 Wood, heavy wood with deep brown-black lacquered patina. A superb old hardwood dance mask featuring an ...

Antique Nepalese Butter Churn Handle. Known as a Ghurra, individually carved from a single piece of wood having different geometric forms, a circle, a rec...

mid-20th century Tami Islands Papua new guinea wooden feast bowl Of classic form, each end carved with raised and incised imagery depicting stylized sea cr...

Old well weathered hardwood Kuna Indian abstract figure, Panama, Provenance, old CA state collection. Body abstracted down to two forms for shoulders and hips, with small fine head....

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 ...

Sweet worn, polished and smoothed Kuba ceremonial serving platter with handle and incised Classic royal Kuba knot pattern on one side. Cra...

These are early 20th century carved panels from Timor Island, they have been hand carved and feature a mix of human and animal figures. They also feature ceremonial tribal designs on...

This finely carved Nyamwezi mask displays a powerful facial expression, with small rounded eyes and large ears, a long and slender nose, and an open mouth with inserted wooden teeth....

Dating to the late 19th century, this is a fine and rarer form of Ethiopian headrest with a double-tiered, cone-shaped base. Decorating the base ar...

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...

An old carved wood handle from Nepal, North India or other Himalayan culture. A butter churn handle called a ghurra. Created in the early 20th century. The handle with finely carved...

Blacked wood helmet mask (Gelede), large human head surmounted by a dog eating a snake which curves around the head. No perforation for attachment to costu...

Early vintage or antique South Seas carved teak Mermaid, circa 1920s or perhaps earlier, a hand carved upright figure holding a carved shell, with deeply carved flowers in grooved hair flowing down back, shell necklace, and scale pattern throughout her tail. The statue is weathered, has a few age cracks, and the end of the tail is broken. Mounted long ago on a late Victorian brass lamp...

This Helmet Crest mask is categorized as a “Babanki” style Ngoin mask from Northwestern provinces of Cameroon circa first half of 20th century. In part of highland area called “Camer...

A very old wooden make-up box Circa: early 20th century Origin: DR Congo from the Kuba tribe Material: wood, Condition of item: age appropriate wear. Very rich tribal patina 7 x ...

A pair of Ibeji figures from lIorin region Nigeria A male and female pair with purple brown patination and encrusted with cam wood powder Fine carvings from early 20th century Siz...

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 ...

African mask. Mid 20th century. Carved wood. H 9-1/2" W 6-1/2"

"African Prestige Stool – Zambia (bemba/lunda), Mid-20th Century" African Prestige Stool – Zambia (Bemba/Lunda), Mid-20th Century A finely carved four-legged prestige stool from Zam...

Moroccan Berber tribal bracelet Moroccan tribal bracelet, cuff from the high atlas of Morocco. Handcrafted by Berber women using Moroc...

This hand crafted and tribal engraved bowl originates from Nias Island Indonesia. It features tribal motifs along the rim and a beautiful hand hewn texture along its basin. It is cra...

Showing a crescent shaped headrest braced by flattened 'V' shaped supports rising from a cupped base, decorated overall with hand carved linear motifs and exhibiting an old rubbed su...

This large early Ashanti stool consists of an attractive support featuring a double-sided bird motif. The surface of the stool exhibits a rich, dark patina. Extensive use over the ...

Very Good Antique Aboriginal carved wood Boomerang Australia Carved with fluted design on one face chip design on back, red pigment Central desert ...

Moroccan Berber cable hand-carved with tribal African designs. Rectangular wooden coffee table hand-carved wit tribal designs by skilled Moroccan artisans in Marrakech. Dark brown ...

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 ...

Classic Yaka fetish of darkened wood with polished and worn patina, wearing a conical hat, and enclosed by wrapped fetish bundle. Typical Yaka face with strong lines on face outlini...

Small carved darkened wood bird faced mask with long nose/beak. Smaller squatting figure with curled arms carved on forehead. From Sepik River Area of Papua New Guinea. Signs of ...

Strong Marka antelope - human wood mask with metal, Mali Africa. Large square open eyes, long nose with horizontal lips, three projecting brass metal braids ending with feathered cl...

Moroccan tribal Berber wooden sugar hammer. Handcrafted by the Berber women of Morocco, hand-carved wood with tribal design, this folk art instrument is a...

This wooden statue from Siraha Salawa, a noble Nias ancestor figure from Indonesia, is a striking example of Nias artistry and cultural heritage. Carved from a single piece of wood, ...

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...

A hand-carved, hand-painted wooden tribal mask. Hand-carved and painted this decorative mask that would look great in a western or country themed ...

A generously sized wooden tribal mask. Hand-carved and painted this decorative mask that would look great in a western or country themed setting. Measures: 39" High x 5 1/2" Wide...

A early 20th century wooden dancing shield of the Tutsi, Rwanda, painted with earth pigments The shield is in good condition with traces of tribal use Straight line height 30 cm, wid...

Senufo - African "Trompe d’appel" - Mid 20th century - Ivory Coast Carved Wooden Statue ethnic furniture - wabi sabi decoration Sénoufo, Ivory Coast. ...

Vintage Wooden Totem Kwakiutl Eagle Cedar Wood. Early 20th Century hand carved cedar wood totem of a Kwakiutl eagle. It is created by a Native artist ...

A Carved Ebony Prestige Staff Depicting an Important Elder or Leader wearing a Head-Ring ‘Isicoco’ His waistband neck-ring and eyes inlaid with brass studs, his hands carved to his s...

Genuine carved wooden statue of the Kusu tribe DR Congo, first half of the 20th century with a tribal aged patina of use Height without nail on the head 20 cm

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.

African Tribal folk Art Makonde Madonna figure A very finely executed large sculpture of a African Christian Madonna, the standing figure wearing a l...

"Coconut Shell Carved Ritual Cup – Iatmul People, Sepik River, Png" Antique Carved Coconut Shell Ritual Bowl – Iatmul People, Sepik River...

Large fierce Dan Guere or We mask from the Ivory Coast Africa ex Fearing collection. Strong mask with open tubular eyes, projecting carved wood tusks, open mouth with teeth, and att...

Genuine Statue / bust Of The Yaka Tribe - Dr Congo, Early 20th century Tribal aged patina Mounted on a wooden base Total height 22 cm, figure height 15.5 cm

The sculpture, expertly carved from fragrant Nepalese sandalwood, stands as a testament to the rich tradition of wood carving in Nepal. The medium itself adds a sensory dimension to ...

This rare antique Kukukuku (pronounced "cookah-cookah") war club originates from the Morobe Province, which is a very remote area located within the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Gu...

An extremely rare Papua wood sculpture of a Korwar Papua New Guinea, Cendrawasih Bay, Wandammen, early 19th century Measures: Height 24 x Diameter 18 cm Finely carved in th...