Malian Furniture

Very important “Nwantamtay” dance African mask, consisting of three sections: The upper in plain rectangular shape surmounted by a crescent shape moon, the middle with beautiful geometric triangles in black bitumen and white kaolin, surrounding a red cruciform in the centre of remarkable contrasting colors, and the lower part or face inscribed in a circular space that inspired numbered great artists like Joan Miro, Picasso and Henry Moore of a very strongly solar symbolism, with a projecting protuberance emanating from the forehead like a sculpted bird beak, that descents toward the mouth. Concentric eyes harmonize with the circular mouth, both with of elegant proportions. The whole mask exudes a supreme harmony and perfect balance rarely seen in this pieces. The back-side presents nice ware that attested the ancient origin and traces of animistic ceremonies as the use of animal blood residues. The painting of brown bitumen or cola, the natural colorants in red and ocher tones and the white kaolin are original and do not show any repainted or restored areas, giving a freshness rarely seen in old pieces. This exceptional mask Bwa, of the Hound`e Region in Burkina-Fasso, was used it the transit ceremonies and funerals manifesting the presence of “Do”, name given to their God sons, protectors and powerful spirits. The round face also represents an owl, the curving beak of the bird plants a seed into the sun, like a female sexual vulva being fecundated by the male organ; the eternal symbol of Ying and Yang, masculine and feminine, and the quest of life and death. This mask of Primitive facture can be compared to the one in the celebrated Verite Collection (this one being larger) sold in Paris at the Hotel Drouot, Saturday June 17, Lot 59, for 80,000 Euros and remarkably stands out from the Pierre and Tannia Matisse sold in Sotheby’s, New York in May 13, 2011. Another similar piece was published in: “Arman et l’art africain...

Striking and detailed bronze relief sculpture from Benin, now known as Nigeria, in Africa. This piece was modeled after ancient Benin bronzes, but is from the 20th Century. The intri...

Jan Saudek, Silver Gelatin Print, "The Virgin" limted edition. This is print no. 5/15 Title : "The Virgin" Numbered with # 360 and limited edition Written on reverse by hand of Jan Saudek" Edition of this print is limited to 15 (fifteen). This is print nr. 5 (five) Print finished May 3 1890 (Jan dated his work 100 Years earlier) Signed by Saudek, with pencil in lower right Silver gelatin print, model print Hand colored Measurement: 40,4 cm wide x 29,2 cm high The photograph is not framed Jan Saudek dated all his work 100 Years earlier Jan Saudek, Czech photographer 1935: born in Prague 13.5.1935 1950: he gets his first camera KODAK BABY Brownie - first photographic Attempts 1952: apprenticed to a photographer, he worked as a printing shop worker until 1983 1959: he uses "real" camera Flexaret 6x6, he is also drawing and painting 1963: for ever influenced by the catalogue of the magnificent photographic exhibition "Family of Man" (Edward Steichen) 1972: he finds his typical WALL composition, which became a sort of projection screen for his figural scenes. 1981: appears his first monography "Il teatro...

A classic Dogon ladder made of dark wood and mounted on a sturdy metal stand. The Dogon people live in southeastern Mali and Burkina Faso. Despite being surrounded by Muslims, th...

A lovely little hand carved Senufo Sejen bird sculpture from the early to mid 20th century, Africa, Ivory Coast.

Classic danced deep red-black Baule mask, with raised three part finely incised hair, small facial scarifications on the forehead. From Ivory Coast, Africa, mid 20th century It is ...

A Benin bronze of an Oba. Oba means ruler in the Yoruba language. Wearing a lattice-pattern cap with strands of beads suspended around the head. The neck is bound with a lattice-patt...

Cubist Dogon carved wood Antelope mask with attached raffia, from Mali West Africa. Tall vertical eyes, small slit mouth. Pair of carved curved blackened...

Striking and detailed bronze relief sculpture from Benin, now known as Nigeria, in Africa. This piece was modeled after ancient Benin bronzes, but is from the 20th Century. The intri...

Nafana "Bedu" mask, from Southern Burkina Faso/Ivory Coast. Wood with natural earth pigments. Note the double faces, one with tubular eyes and mouth for the dancer and the larger a...

Intriguing good looking mask artistically made of combination of hand crafted beads ,shells , and hand painted wood. To make such a exceptional object of art for display. Custom-mad...

Tall African wooden sculpture, that was probably used originally to prepare food. Its got a great patina and is really warm. Some parts seem to be missing, and the piece has cracks (...