What are carved wood figures in African art?

Carved African wood figurines were typically spiritual in nature and were primarily in human form. The wood figurines were carved using ebony, teak, mahogany and iron wood. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic African wood figurines from some of the world’s top sellers.

What wood is used for African carvings?

What wood is used for African wood carvings varies. Iroko, mahogany and ebony are frequently chosen materials, but artisans may choose to work with whatever wood is available in their local areas. Shop a variety of African wood art from some of the world's top galleries on 1stDibs.

African Carved Figure

Congo Figure

Wood Female Figure

Africa Tribal Furniture

Category

Early 20th Century Kenyan Tribal Side Tables

Materials

Wood

Antique African Figural Carved Table

$1,575

African Cameroon Contemporary Carved Wood Pygmy Squatting Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Cameroon Contemporary carved wood figure features a flattened head with elliptical eyes

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Cameroon Contemporary Carved Wood Pygmy Squatting Figure

$400

African 20th Century Carved Wood Makonde Abstract Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African 20th Century carved wood Makonde abstract figure in Shetani style (Swahili: \"devil

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Other

African 20th Century Carved Wood Makonde Abstract Figure

$1,500

African Gabon 20th Century Hand Carved Vuvi Figure

Located in Queens, NY

Gabonese 20th century fetish statue of a standing male figure with a raised and open left hand and

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bone

African Gabon 20th Century Hand Carved Vuvi Figure

$700

African Hinged Top Carved Wood and Brass Figural Chest

Located in Queens, NY

Contemporary African (20th Century) carved wooden hinge-top chest featuring figural carvings on the

Category

20th Century African Tribal Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

African Hinged Top Carved Wood and Brass Figural Chest

$2,400

African Tanzania 20th Century Carved Wood Makonde Female Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Tanzania 20th Century Makonde carved wood stylized female figure with raised arms and

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Tanzania 20th Century Carved Wood Makonde Female Figure

$800

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Ambete Reliquary Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Gabon 20th Century carved wood Ambete reliquary figure features an oval head with inlaid

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Ambete Reliquary Figure

$3,400

African Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Songye Fetish Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Congo 20th Century carved wood Songye ceremonial fetish figure made with inlaid horn and

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Horn

African Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Songye Fetish Figure

$1,900

African Cameroon 20th Century Hand Carved Mabila Ancestor Figure

Located in Queens, NY

Cameroonian 20th century hand carved wooden figure by the Mabila people, depicting an ancestral

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Cameroon 20th Century Hand Carved Mabila Ancestor Figure

$2,400

African Nigeria 20th Century Hand Carved Female Ibibio Figure

Located in Queens, NY

Nigerian 20th c. female guardian figure hand carved in wood by the Ibibio people with a base made

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Fabric

African Nigeria 20th Century Hand Carved Female Ibibio Figure

$2,400

African Ivory Coast Early Carved Wooden Kafigueledio Senoufo Fetish Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African carved wooden Kafigueledio Senoufo fetish figure with face and body concealed with coarse

Category

21st Century and Contemporary African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Ivory Coast Early Carved Wooden Kafigueledio Senoufo Fetish Figure

$1,000

African Gabon Mid 20th Century Carved Wooden Ambete Male Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Gabon Mid-20th Century hand carved Ambete wooden male figure with a diamond shaped head

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Gabon Mid 20th Century Carved Wooden Ambete Male Figure

$1,700

African 20th-Century Yoruba Carved Wood Terracotta Seated Female Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Nigeria 20th Century carved wood & terra cotta Yoruba female figure seated on 2 posts, with

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African 20th-Century Yoruba Carved Wood Terracotta Seated Female Figure

$3,600

African Nigerian 20th-Century Yoruba Carved Wood Figure on Stool

Located in Queens, NY

African Nigeria 20th Century Yoruba carved wood male figure with the head and body wrapped in rope

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Nigerian 20th-Century Yoruba Carved Wood Figure on Stool

$2,000

African Ivory Coast 20th Century Hand Carved Dan Fertility Figure

Located in Queens, NY

Côte d\'Ivoire 20th c. fertility figure hand carved from a single piece of wood with carved details

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Ivory Coast 20th Century Hand Carved Dan Fertility Figure

$2,400

African Nigeria Mid 20th Century Hand Carved Eshu Female Figure

Located in Queens, NY

Nigerian mid 20th c. wooden figure hand carved and pigmented by the Eshu people depicting a

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Nigeria Mid 20th Century Hand Carved Eshu Female Figure

$1,600

African Gabon Late 20th Century Hand Carved Male Reliquary Figure

Located in Queens, NY

Gabonese late 20th c. reliquary figure of the Ambete people, hand carved and pigmented in red and

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bone

African Gabon Late 20th Century Hand Carved Male Reliquary Figure

$1,100

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Fang Male Reliquary Guardian Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Gabon 20th Century carved wood Fang male reliquary guardian figure representing the Byeri

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Fang Male Reliquary Guardian Figure

$5,000

African Female Nude Carved Stone Figure

Located in San Francisco, CA

C. 20th Century African Female Nude Carved Stone Figure.

Category

20th Century Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stone

African Female Nude Carved Stone Figure

$385

African Angola 20th Century Carved Wood Chokwe Ancestor Chibinda Ilunga Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Angola 20th carved wood Century Chokwe Ancestor Chibinda Ilunga figure (the hero Chibinda

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Angola 20th Century Carved Wood Chokwe Ancestor Chibinda Ilunga Figure

$1,900

African Nigeria Mid-Century Carved Wood Yoruba Seated Female Fertility Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Nigeria Mid-Century carved wood Yoruba female figure seated on a post with incised coiffed

Category

Mid-20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Nigeria Mid-Century Carved Wood Yoruba Seated Female Fertility Figure

$1,800

African Ivory Coast 20th Century Carved Wood Baule Mbra Monkey Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Ivory Coast 20th Century carved wood Baule Mbra monkey figure, seated with a string

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ivory

African Ivory Coast 20th Century Carved Wood Baule Mbra Monkey Figure

$3,000

African Togo 20th Century Carved Wood Legba Aja Figure on Stand

Located in Queens, NY

African Togo 20th Century carved wood Legba Aja (goddess of healing, herbs & knowledge) figure in a

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Beads

African Togo 20th Century Carved Wood Legba Aja Figure on Stand

$800

African Ivory Coast 20th Century Carved Wood Baule Diviner Seated Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Ivory Coast 20th Century carved wood Baule seated male trance diviner figure with incised

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ivory

African Ivory Coast 20th Century Carved Wood Baule Diviner Seated Figure

$5,000

African Wooden Carved Stool Figural Group

Located in Douglas Manor, NY

Wooden carved Akan stool with figural group.

Category

Vintage 1960s Ghanaian Stools

Materials

Boxwood

African Wooden Carved Stool Figural Group

$650

African Nigeria 20th Century Carved Wood Igbo Female Village Guardian Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Nigeria 20th Century carved wood Igbo female village guardian painted white with green

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Paint

African Nigeria 20th Century Carved Wood Igbo Female Village Guardian Figure

$3,800

African Mali Late 20th Century Carved Wooden Bamana Maternity Figure with Baby

Located in Queens, NY

African Mali late 20th-Century hand carved wooden Bamana maternity figure with a baby on the back

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Mali Late 20th Century Carved Wooden Bamana Maternity Figure with Baby

$1,500

Small Antique Hippopotamus Figure, African, Soapstone, Hand Carved, Victorian

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a small antique hippopotamus figure. An African, hand-carved soapstone animal, dating to

Category

Antique Late 19th Century African Late Victorian Animal Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

Small Antique Hippopotamus Figure, African, Soapstone, Hand Carved, Victorian

$1,169

African Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Songye Kwfebe Figural Plaque

Located in Queens, NY

African Congo 20th Century wood Songye Kwfebe plaque carved in flattened figural form with a

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ash

African Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Songye Kwfebe Figural Plaque

$1,900

African carved hardwood figure of a Maasai warrior, signed, circa 1930

Located in Central England, GB

highly tactile and decorative African Maasai warrior carved figure. If you need any further information

Category

Mid-20th Century African Primitive Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Hardwood

African carved hardwood figure of a Maasai warrior, signed, circa 1930

$2,238

African Togo / Benin Coast 20th Century Carved Wood Mami Wata Standing Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Togo / Benin Coast 20th Century carved and painted wood Mami Wata figure, in cylindrical

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Paint

African Togo / Benin Coast 20th Century Carved Wood Mami Wata Standing Figure

$5,700

African Art Statue "Fertility Figure"

Located in Norton, MA

statue is a very delicate hand-carved figure.

Category

Early 20th Century African Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Art Statue "Fertility Figure"

$12,500

African Gabon 20th Century Hand Carved Reliquary Fetish Figure in Grass Skirt

Located in Queens, NY

Gabonese 20th c. fetish figure hand carved and pigmented wood by the Ambete people of Gabon, with a

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bone

African Gabon 20th Century Hand Carved Reliquary Fetish Figure in Grass Skirt

$1,400

Vintage Cameroon African Carved Wood Bamileke Figural Center Table

Located in Chicago, IL

Vintage Cameroon African Carved Wood Bamileke Figural Center Table This vintage Cameroon African

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Center Tables

Materials

Wood

Vintage Cameroon African Carved Wood Bamileke Figural Center Table

$3,937

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Nkisi Baboon Nail Fetish Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Democratic Republic of the Congo 20th Century carved wood baboon nail fetish guardian

Category

20th Century African Tribal Animal Sculptures

Materials

Metal

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Nkisi Baboon Nail Fetish Figure

$1,700

Antique African Tribal Figural Carved Armchairs - Set of 2

Located in Chicago, IL

Antique African Tribal Figural Carved Armchairs - Set of 2 These Amazing Antique African Tribal

Category

Early 20th Century Kenyan Tribal Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Antique African Tribal Figural Carved Armchairs - Set of 2

$2,300 / set

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Mirror Nkisi Nail Fetish Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Democratic Republic of the Congo 20th Century carved wood 2-headed nail fetish guardian

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Mirror Nkisi Nail Fetish Figure

$1,750

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Nkisi Male Nail Fetish Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Democratic Republic of the Congo 20th Century carved wood male nail fetish guardian figure

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Glass

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Nkisi Male Nail Fetish Figure

$1,300

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Songye 2-Headed Janus Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Democratic Republic of the Congo 20th Century carved wood Songye 2-headed Janus guardian

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Songye 2-Headed Janus Figure

$1,200

African Cameroon 20th Century Carved Wood Beaded Namur Doll Female Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Cameroon 20th Century carved wood Namur female fertility doll in a stylized curved form

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Cameroon 20th Century Carved Wood Beaded Namur Doll Female Figure

$500

African Dagari Ancestor Figure

Located in Chicago, IL

. Hand-carved from wood, the figure assumes a traditional reversed “y” shape, minimally articulated save

Category

Early 20th Century Ghanaian Primitive Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Dagari Ancestor Figure

$1,880

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Nkisi 2-Headed Nail Fetish Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Democratic Republic of the Congo 20th Century carved wood 2-headed nail fetish guardian

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wood Nkisi 2-Headed Nail Fetish Figure

$1,200

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wooden Luba Female Fertility Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African D.R Congo 20th-Century carved wooden Luba female fertility figure with beaded black, blue

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African D.R. Congo 20th Century Carved Wooden Luba Female Fertility Figure

$3,800

Hand Carved Wood Lion Toy Figure in Orange and Black, Africa, 1970s

Located in Oklahoma City, OK

A whimsical hand carved lion statue from Africa. Hand carved by local artisans in East Africa in

Category

Vintage 1970s North African Tribal Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood, Paint

Hand Carved Wood Lion Toy Figure in Orange and Black, Africa, 1970s

$350

African Namji Fertility Figure

Located in Chicago, IL

beads or clothes, the figure ensured future fertility. Carved with a characteristically small head and

Category

Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

African Namji Fertility Figure

$2,780

African Seated Luba Figure

Located in Chicago, IL

Artisans from the Luba tribe were renowned for the organic flow of their carving style. This example clearly shows the smooth transition from aspect to aspect, maintaining a singular...

Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Seated Luba Figure

$880

Senufo Figure African Sculpture

By Senufo

Located in Sharon, CT

Authentic tribal piece, early 20th century.

Category

Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Senufo Figure African Sculpture

$12,000

African Ivory Coast Wooden Figure of Male with Bowl

Located in Queens, NY

African Côte d\'Ivoire hand carved wooden figure of a Baule male sitting down holding a small bowl

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Down

African Ivory Coast Wooden Figure of Male with Bowl

$1,200

Hand-Carved Solid Wood African Woman Figure Sculpture – 100 cm / 39.4 in

Located in Turku, Finland

A striking hand-carved solid-wood sculpture depicting a standing female figure in a graceful

Category

Late 20th Century Tanzanian Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Hand-Carved Solid Wood African Woman Figure Sculpture – 100 cm / 39.4 in

$4,531

African Nigeria 20th Century Hand Crafted Yoruba Fertility Figure

Located in Queens, NY

Nigerian 20th c. female fertility figure hand crafted by the Yoruba people out of carved wood

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Copper

African Nigeria 20th Century Hand Crafted Yoruba Fertility Figure

$1,600

South African Tribal Carved Wooden Figure of Naked Lady by G. Tandi, circa 1960s

Located in Richmond, Surrey

South African Tribal carved wooden figure of naked lady by G. Tandi, circa 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s South African Mid-Century Modern Tribal Art

Materials

Hardwood

South African Tribal Carved Wooden Figure of Naked Lady by G. Tandi, circa 1960s

$750

African Mali Mid 20th Century Luba Female Standing Fertility Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Mali mid 20th-Century hand carved wooden standing Luba female feritility figure Good

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Mali Mid 20th Century Luba Female Standing Fertility Figure

$2,000

Pair of Hand Carved Wooden African Folk Art Figure Lamps and Custom Woven Shades

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Pair of Folk Art lamps - Hand carved African Figures on a black base - A decorative brass rod

Category

20th Century Central African Folk Art Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Pair of Hand Carved Wooden African Folk Art Figure Lamps and Custom Woven Shades

$3,600 / set

African Gabon/Congo 20th Century Kota Mahangwe Reliquary Guardian Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Gabon / Congo 20th Century Kota Mahangwe carved wood reliquary guardian figure in flattened

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

African Gabon/Congo 20th Century Kota Mahangwe Reliquary Guardian Figure

$1,700

Early Carved Wood Tribal Kuba Figural Cup, Congo, Africa Male with Beard

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Early finely carved hard wood tribal Kuba figural cup, Congo with rich patina. In the form of a

Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Early Carved Wood Tribal Kuba Figural Cup, Congo, Africa Male with Beard

$2,360 Sale Price

20% Off

Zulu Wood Double Head Rest Stylized Human Figure, South Africa

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Zulu carved wood double headrest with stylized human figure in middle, from South Africa. In

Category

Mid-20th Century South African Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Zulu Wood Double Head Rest Stylized Human Figure, South Africa

$2,450

James Tandi African Wild Boar Green Carved Verdite Hardstone Sculpture Figure

Located in Philadelphia, PA

James Tandi African Wild Boar Green Carved Verdite Hardstone Sculpture Figure. Item features an

Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Tribal Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stone

James Tandi African Wild Boar Green Carved Verdite Hardstone Sculpture Figure

$1,200

Decorative Objects Under $1,000

Antique and Vintage Decorative Objects

Tribal Decorative Objects

20th Century Decorative Objects

Wood Decorative Objects

Decorative Objects on Sale

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African Carved Figure For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic African carved figure available at 1stDibs. An African carved figure — often made from wood, metal and brass — can elevate any home. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer African carved figure, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Each African carved figure bearing Folk Art, Mid-Century Modern or Modern hallmarks is very popular. Baule Tribe, Onsem M. and Senufo each produced at least one beautiful African carved figure that is worth considering.

How Much is an African Carved Figure?

Prices for an African carved figure start at $95 and top out at $29,500 with the average selling for $1,815.

Questions About African Carved Figure

What are carved wood figures in African art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Carved African wood figurines were typically spiritual in nature and were primarily in human form. The wood figurines were carved using ebony, teak, mahogany and iron wood. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic African wood figurines from some of the world’s top sellers.
What wood is used for African carvings?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023
What wood is used for African wood carvings varies. Iroko, mahogany and ebony are frequently chosen materials, but artisans may choose to work with whatever wood is available in their local areas. Shop a variety of African wood art from some of the world's top galleries on 1stDibs.