Nigerian Furniture

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 ...

Gelede festivals honor the creative and dangerous power of women elders, female ancestors and goddesses known as "our mothers". The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lo...

Large carved wooden spoon in the shape of a standing female figure, with a round bowl over her head, Yoruba People, circa 1960s. The numbers are the inventory numbers from Penn Stat...

Gelede festivals honor the creative and dangerous power of women elders, female ancestors and goddesses known as "our mothers". The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lo...

A tall hand-carved statue of a dancer "Queen Dancer" crafted by the Egba People, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, circa 1950s. The statue is hand-carved in a rather rough way, not very...

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 ...

Gelede festivals honour the creative and dangerous power of women elders, female ancestors and goddesses known as "our mothers". The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lower mask and an upper elaborate superstructure. The lower mask depicts a woman's face, it's composure expressing the qualities of calmness and patience. The numbers are the inventory numbers from Penn State University and Lehigh University. Exhibited: The Pennsylvania State University - Museum of Art permanent collection; The Lehigh University - Art Galleries permanent collection. Provenance: The collection of Dr and Mrs John E. Swanson. Dr John Swanson and his wife Marian lived from 1966 - 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria where Dr Swanson was the Advisor to the National Universities Commission and later on the Chief Planning Officer of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. During their time in Africa the Swansons started to collect African art. In 1973 a part of their collection, circa 120 pieces went on loan to The Pennsylvania State University Museum of Art, where the remained until 1978. In 1981 Dr Swanson passed away and his wife Marian never returned to Africa. In 1982 Mrs Swanson lent 130 pieces to the Lehigh University Art Gallery where they remained until 1987. A few pieces were also lent to Lafayette College...

The Afo Bridal Currency was used in Nigeria until the early 1940s. This is also known as a "Chenkrom." Now mounted on a bronze stand.

Terracotta head remnant on tapered wood base

Akan Terracotta Commemorative head of an ancestor , Akan People, Ghana Willem Geyskens 1977 Terracotta with granular black engobe. Portrait of a woma...

A hand carved Nigerian tribal mask with bent metal and nail head ornamentation

Used as forms of currency, they could also serve as a musical or ritual object. Displayed on a custom mount.

Lakin Ogunbanwo (b. 1987, Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian photographer renowned for his evocative portraits that blend fashion photography with classical portraiture. His work is chara...

Lakin Ogunbanwo (b. 1987, Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian photographer renowned for his evocative portraits that blend fashion photography with classical portraiture. His work is chara...

A fine Idoma Headdress, ungulali, rising from a flaring conical base with holes around the rim for attachment, the first tier of three stylized faces with tapering chins, parted lips...

Nigerian currency crafted by the Fulani tribe. Outlawed in the 19th century by Colonel Phelps. The unusual forms and sizes of ethnographic currencies...

This 19th century harvest African currency is from the Ibo tribe in Nigeria. It looks something like an animal and reminds of a crocodile. One of the end sections is slatted so as to...

Wooden head of an Ooni of Ile-Ife, Yoruba People, Nigeria, circa 1930s. The Ooni is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife. The Nigerian town is seen as the cradle of the Yoruba people. The number is the inventory number from Lehigh University. Exhibited: The Lehigh University - Art Galleries permanent collection. Provenance: The collection of Dr and Mrs John E. Swanson. Dr John Swanson and his wife Marian lived from 1966 - 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria where Dr Swanson was the Advisor to the National Universities Commission and later on the Chief Planning Officer of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. During their time in Africa the Swansons started to collect African art. In 1973 a part of their collection, circa 120 pieces went on loan to The Pennsylvania State University Museum of Art, where the remained until 1978. In 1981 Dr Swanson passed away and his wife Marian never returned to Africa. In 1982 Mrs Swanson lent 130 pieces to the Lehigh University Art Gallery where they remained until 1987. A few pieces were also lent to Lafayette College...

The heads are flat, oblong in shape with typical face scarifications marks.