Ohio - Tribal Art

Very large and impressive, circa 1880's, Zia Pueblo polychrome dough bowl. Round shape with slightly tapered base, crafted of red clay, decorated with a band of red, white, and black geometric motifs. The Zia Pueblo, situated atop a basalt mesa in north-central New Mexico, is comprised of Keresan-speaking Indians who have continuously occupied the site since the 13th century. Over 600 years old, Zía Pueblo has two plazas, each with a kiva, surrounded by one and two-story traditional dwellings of native rock surfaced with mud. Zia Pueblo is home to the Spanish mission of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the construction of which began around 1694. Archaeologists believe that the Zia people are descendants of the Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) people of the Four Corners region, who migrated to the Jemez River Valley sometime in the 13th century. Located between the slopes of the Sierra Nacimiento Mountains and the San Pedro River Valley, the Zia people have long lived an agricultural lifestyle, primarily growing corn, beans, and squash in shared or common ground, to which everyone contributed. Other minor crops were grown in personal, individual gardens, such as peppers, onions, chilies, and tobacco. The people also hunted small and large game. Homes at the pueblo were built with the local basalt and mud mortar, covered in mud plaster. The principal festival of the year for the Zia Pueblo is the Corn Dance on the feast day of Our Lady of the Assumption in August. Wonderful traditional costumes and ceremonies make this an important event in the life of the Pueblo and one which is very attractive to visitors. In recognition of Zia’s long history and unique culture, the Zia Pueblo is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Famous for their large storage jars and huge dough bowls / vessels, Zia pottery...

Vintage Native American medicine bag or pouch fashioned out of the shell of a box turtle and buckskin leather with cords and fringe accent...

Vintage Native American style medicine bag or pouch fashioned out of the shell of a box turtle and buckskin leather, decorated around the edge with red and green beads and buttons made out of “Indian Head” / Buffalo nickels...

Vintage Native American ceremonial rattle / shaker fashioned out of the shell of a box turtle on a wooden dowel, accented with a silver tone...

Vintage Native American ceremonial dance / war club tomahawk with heavy studded concrete / stone head painted in red with wood branch handle...

Vintage Yoruba Nigerian beaded tribal armchair featuring geometric patterns with alligators / crocodiles, antelope / gazelle, lions, masked faces, plants, parrots, eagles, birds elephants, and buffalo. Traditionally made for the Yoruba tribe Kings and Queens, Yoruba chairs...

"Carved wood marriage bench or stool featuring a rectangular footed base with pierced sides bearing carved geometric and figural accents, surmounted by seat formed of male and female figure torsos joined at the waist with linked arms to either side and sculptural heads at end. These benches were presented to brides on their wedding day as a symbol of the union with her new husband. Dogon people / tribe (Western Africa, Mali). Measures:33". Additional history: DOGON (DOGO, DOGOM, HABBE, HABE, KADO, KADDO, KIBISI, TOMBO) Mali, Burkina Faso The 400,000 Dogon live 180 miles south of Timbuktu on the cliffs of Bandiagara, which dominate the plains for over 150 miles. They speak approximately 120 dialects, many of which are not mutually comprehensible. At first hunters, now on their small fields they cultivate millet, sorghum, wheat, and onion. The millet is stored in high quadrangular granaries around which they build their houses. Because of the difficult approach to these regions and the aridity of the climate, the Dogon have been isolated and hence were able to conserve their ancient religious habits and ways of making the necessary implements, their carvings. Dogon social and religious organizations are closely interlinked and out of this arose principal cults, which accounts for the richness and diversity of Dogon culture and art. The clans are subdivided onto lineages, overseen by the patriarch, guardian of the clan’s ancestral shrine and officiant at the totemic animal cult. Beside this hierarchical system of consanguinity, male and female associations are entrusted with the initiations that take place by age group, corresponding to groups of newly circumcised or excised boys or girls. The Dogon believe these operations remove the female element from males and vice versa. Circumcision thus creates a wholly male or female person prepared to assume an adult role. The members of an age group owe one another assistance until the day they die. Initiation of boys begins after their circumcision, with the teaching of the myths annotated by drawings and paintings. The young boys will learn the place of humans in nature, society, and the universe. In the Dogon pantheon Amma appears as the original creator of all the forces of the universe and of his descendant Lebe, the god of plant rebirth. The first Dogon primordial ancestors, called Nommo, were bisexual water gods. They were created in heaven by the creator god Amma and descended from heaven to earth in an ark. The Nommo founded the eight Dogon lineages and introduced weaving, smithing, and agriculture to their human descendants. For these various cults the hogon is both priest and political chief of the village. He is also in charge of the cult of lebe, the mythical serpent. Assisted by the blacksmith, he presides over agrarian ceremonies. The smiths and woodcarvers, who form a separate caste, transmit their profession by heredity. They may only marry within their own caste. Women are in charge of pottery making. Dogon art is extremely versatile, although common stylistic characteristics – such as a tendency towards stylization – are apparent on the statues. Their art deals with the myths whose complex ensemble regulates the life of the individual. The sculptures are preserved in innumerable sites of worship, personal or family altars, altars for rain, altars to protect hunters, in market. As a general characterization of Dogon statues...

Vintage handmade African Juju feather hat, made of brown and white feathers. Measures: 32”.  

Monumental African Tribal Burkina Faso Horned Bobo Ceremonial mask helmet 66" Monumental tribal hardwood horned bobo mask. The perfect sculptural wall obj...

A pair of native sculptures in the style of Hagenauer with a dark ebony toned finish, hand-carved wood with copper loops and spears mounted on matching bases . A great pair to highli...

A vintage survey stick in the style of the WPA with markings that have a very tribal Folk Art look sitting on custom iron bases. These are half pieces f...

A sculpture in the manner of Hagenauer Werkstatte of a kneeling native hunter in a dark ebony finish with copper details mounted on a matching base.