African Historical Memorabilia

This prestige weapon was commissioned by Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia as a diplomatic gift for the renowned French Armenian merchant and honorary French envoy Matig Kevorkoff, a pr...

vintage ethnic Berber tribal hand tooled and embroidered leather satchel shoulder cross body bag. Handcrafted by the Berber artisans from the Rif Mountains North Morocco Africa. ...

This is a vintage decorative halved ammonite. An African, opalized fossil on display plinth, dating to Cretaceous period millions of years ago, polished and presented circa 1970. Delightful example with a dual view of the fascinating fossil data Displaying a desirable aged patina and in good original order Lightly polished shell...

This exceptionally beautiful and rare silver-inlaid brass tray stand dates from the medieval period, when the Mamluks ruled Egypt and Syria (1250-1517). The Mamluks originated as slave-soldiers, who served the Muslim caliphs and Ottoman Empire. With time, the Mamluks became a powerful military caste, and they managed to take control and establish themselves as rulers of certain areas within the Abbasid caliphate. The Mamluk dynasty commissioned great works of art and architecture, particularly in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, which was described in the 14th Century as ‘the centre of the universe and garden of the world’ (Ibn Khaldun, 1382). This tray stand is of biconical form, with a raised central band and flared base and rim. It is decorated with scrolling vines, overlaid with Thuluth inscriptions and roundels. On the lower body, the roundels contain floral motifs, and in the upper, stylised depictions of birds. The Thuluth inscriptions praise the patron, referring to him as ‘The High authority, the Lordly, the Possessor’, and ‘the learned’. The underside of the rim is engraved with a heraldic medallion, possibly the patron’s symbol. In the middle ages, when this piece was made, this item would have stood in a grand interior, supporting a tray full of fruit and fine food. The owner of this lavish piece which still bears traces of its original silver inlay would likely have been an Amir (prince) or some other important figure who was close to the Sultan in the Mamluk court. Mamluk tray...

Antique leather African Moroccan satchel bag with flap decorated with tribal Tuareg embroideries. Antique collectible one of a kind leather bag, handmade in Morocco. True vintage Berber bag collectible piece of decorative wall art. The leather is hand embroidered, hand-tooled in Marrakesh, Morocco. Stunning true vintage Tuareg style bag embroidered with leather elements. This is an old antique man shoulder slim bag, merchants in Morocco when traveling used this bag under their coat to put their money and valuables. handcrafted in Morocco. This bag has a fold over fastening, a square shape, front section and long side tassels adornment. Under the flap, you'll find one long narrow main pocket. The bag craftsmanship is inspired by the ancient culture of Tuareg tribes from Morocco and some African countries. The hand embossing consists of geometrical Moroccan symbols and culture folk. The hand-embroidered detailing adds character and charm to this shoulder/crossbody bag. This messenger collectible shoulder leather African bag...

Antique collectible leather African Moroccan satchel bag with flap decorated with traditional Moorish embroideries. Hand-tooled in Marrakech, this is an old antique shoulder slim bag, merchants in Morocco when traveling used this bag under their coat to put their money and valuables and medicine. This messenger shoulder leather African bag is one of a kind and reflect the folk artwork of the Berber Tribes of Morocco. Antique leather African Moroccan satchel bag with flap decorated with traditional Berber embroideries. Antique collectible leather bag, handmade in Morocco. True vintage Berber bag collectible piece of decorative wall art. The leather is hand embroidered. Artisan hand tooled very unusual and rare leather bag. Handmade from thick tan leather. The strap is long enough to wear the bag at the shoulder or cross-body with it sitting above the hip. Under the flap, you'll find one long narrow main pocket. This beautiful leather bag has been crafted in Morocco. This bag has a fold over fastening. The bag craftsmanship embroidered consists of geometrical Moroccan Moorish designs. This messenger shoulder leather African bag will be great as Moroccan Art wall decoration, just hanging from a hook or framed in a plexiglass presentation box. Dimensions: H 9 in. x W 10.5 in. x D 0.75 in. Total length 29 in. strap is 20 in. circa 1920. This messenger shoulder leather North African exotic bag...

A commemorating glass with an engraving of a farmer ploughing, an East Indiaman and a text reading: Het Lan’s Wel Varen An De Caap (the country’s prosperity at the Cape of Good Hope...

A beautiful Set of 20 Postcards with original photos of Arab cultures of North Africa created and commercialized by Lehnert & Landrock and signed "Editeurs L&L". This was a photographic studio run by Rudolf Franz Lehnert (Germany 1878-1948) and Ernst Heinrich Landrock (Bohemia 1878-1966) active in Tunisia and Egypt in the early 20th century, noted for producing Orientalist images of North African people...

This fascinating piece is an example of shovel currency, formerly used among the peoples of northern Nigeria as a form of monetary exchange. Forged iron would have been traded for go...

A silver and bronze camel chest lock 19th century, North Africa, bought in Tunisia in the early 1960s directly from Nomads. The lock was used to lock valuables in chests which were then packed on camel caravans...

This large and substantial pair of cast and cold-painted locomotive identification plaques show no foundry marks, but are presumed to have been cast in South Africa in circa 1910. Th...

Moorish Brass inlaid camel saddle /towel rack The finest example, heavily inlaid with brass, possibly originally an officers or wealthy persons saddle. Can be easily mounted and ...

This is a vintage carved decorative ammonite. An African, opalized fossil on display plinth, dating to Cretaceous period millions of years ago, polished an...

An exceedingly rare poster for the South African release of the 1965 British espionage thriller 'The Ipcress File' starring Michael Caine as agent Harry P...

This advertising sign was made during the 1960s in the Mid-Century Modern style and likely originates from South Africa. The sign is a combination of a professionally made molded, and silk screened plastic advertisement, which has been crudely mounted to a framed piece of pegboard with Styrofoam board in between. There is also a very light cord, presumably from a battery operated light...