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Creator: Unknown
Early 20th Century Shona Female Caryatid Stool, Zimbabwe
Located in London, GB
Supporting the flat, circular seat of this early twentieth-century stool from the Shona culture in Zimbabwe is a figurative sculpture of a sturdy-bodied female. The figure is depicte...
Category
Early 20th Century Zimbabwean Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Navy Framed Mud Cloth or Kuba Cloth in Floating Acrylic Frame Gold Standoffs
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Navy blue Kuba cloth or Mud cloth framed in acrylic with gold standoffs. Beautiful dark navy blue mud-cloth sandwiched between two pieces of custom acrylic. Four holes on the four co...
Category
1950s Nigerian Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Lucite
$1,500 Sale Price
25% Off
Bambara Granary Door Lock in the Form of a Crocodile, Mali
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century Bambara door lock from Mali has been carved into the form of a crocodile, a symbol of protection in the Bambara culture. The crocodile-shaped door lock, ad...
Category
Mid-20th Century Malian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
19th Century Gurage Headrest With Double-Tiered Structure, Ethiopia
Located in London, GB
Dating to the late 19th century, this is a fine and rarer form of Ethiopian headrest with a double-tiered, cone-shaped base.
Decorating the base ar...
Category
Late 19th Century Ethiopian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Group of Three Traditional Medicine Containers. Luguru, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
Sold as a collection each of these medicine containers displays their own distinctive characteristics. One of the gourd containers features a carved wooden stopper depicting a male h...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Shell, Natural Fiber, Wood, Beads
Early 20th Century Miniature Shrine Ladder
Located in London, GB
This early twentieth-century miniature ladder, from the Dogon culture in Mali, replicates the form of full-size granary ladder, however, unlike its larger, practical counterparts, th...
Category
Early 20th Century Malian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola
Located in London, GB
Resembling the upturned beak of a bird, the shape of this early twentieth-century title staff from the Chokwe culture in Angola exhibits a beautiful, simplistic form. A series of not...
Category
Early 20th Century Angolan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Fine Early Prestige Kuba Chieftain
s Cap (Laket Mishiing)
Located in London, GB
Traditionally worn as a symbol of rank and title, this beautiful Kuba chieftain's cap (laket mishiing) is embellished with cowrie shells and rows of blue, white and black glass beads. The body of the hat has been fashioned from raffia fibre using the woven basketry technique, and displays the typical form of the Kuba 'laket' cap, with four scallop-shaped 'ears'. When worn, one of the 'ears' would have been squarely positioned at the front of the wearer's forehead.
Given to Kuba men upon completion of an initiation rite, small dome-shaped raffia hats signalled their transformation into mature members of Kuba society. As a Kuba man moved up the social ladder, his headgear would change, with male titleholders commissioning local artisans to produce splendidly decorated prestige hats to signal his rank. The accumulation of materials on a Kuba man’s hat...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Shell, Natural Fiber, Beads
Finely Carved Early Ashanti Stool With Bird Motif, Ghana
Located in London, GB
This large early Ashanti stool consists of an attractive support featuring a double-sided bird motif.
The surface of the stool exhibits a rich, dark patina. Extensive use over the ...
Category
Early 20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Fine Bronze Pendant. Gan, Burkina Faso
Located in London, GB
This crescent-shaped bronze pendant, features a central abstract figure. Below the figure, two stylised small birds perch in the middle of the pendant. Throughout, the surface of the...
Category
Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Moroccan African Art Metal Sconce
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
African Tribal Art wall shade metal sconce shade.
These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp shade or just art work.
Iron frame with tribal...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Arts and Crafts Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
$350 / item
Fine Ashanti Stool with Bird Motif, Ghana
Located in London, GB
This fine Ashanti stool from Ghana, which dates to the first half of the 20th century, features an unusual motif - a bird of prey. The surface of this stool exhibits a lovely smooth,...
Category
20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Tribal Shelter
Located in Long Island City, NY
A small shelter of woven palm leaves and twine.
Category
20th Century Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Rattan
$2,700
19th Century Mumuye Iron Currency, Nigeria
Located in London, GB
This tall, elegant iron currency, from the Mumuye culture in Nigeria, dates back to the nineteenth-century. The currency displays a long, spoon-shaped form, with attractive spiral fe...
Category
Late 19th Century Nigerian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Iron
Custom-Mounted Wide-Brimmed Woven Fibre Hat, Kasaï Region, DRC
Located in London, GB
This finely constructed and decorated grass fibre hat from the Kasaï region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was collected in the 1930's. This wide-brimmed hat was likely made...
Category
1930s Congolese Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Important and Rare Igbo Prestige Stool
Located in London, GB
This large, rare Igbo title stool from Nigeria displays a wonderful sculptural form.
The circular seat and base are connected by a series of beautifully curved supporting legs, whi...
Category
20th Century Nigerian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage African Urembo Beaded Necklace Choker Kenya
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
African Urembo Beaded vintage necklace choker by the Maasai Tribe Kenya
Vintage African Urembo beaded necklace choker.
Handmade in Kenya by the ...
Category
Late 20th Century Kenyan Folk Art Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
Fine Bronze Bangle Featuring Two Animals. Burkina Faso/Ghana
Located in London, GB
This finely cast bronze bangle is possibly Gan, or a related culture, from Burkina Faso or northern Ghana. It depicts two animals resembling chameleons which flank a central decorati...
Category
Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Akan
Cast From Life
Beetle Gold Weight, Ghana
Located in London, GB
Every detail and feature of the beetle has been finely preserved in bronze, from its tiny claws to the pattern of striations on the insect's shell. Having been 'cast from life' by an Akan gold...
Category
19th Century Ghanaian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Bronze
Mother and Child Figure. Kwere, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
This finely carved figure with a prominent sweeping hairstyle sits upright with her knees bent and holding out her child in a forward position. The surface of the figure is smooth an...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Small Traditional Kwere Medicine Container, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century traditional medicine container from the Kwere culture in Tanzania has been finely carved into two sections.
The upper section tightly fits the body of th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Fine Mid-Twentieth Century Mother and Child Figure
Located in London, GB
This beautiful mid-twentieth century figurative sculpture depicts a mother, crowned with a sweeping double-parted coiffure, holding her child at her side. Multiple strands of glass b...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood, Beads
Fine Traditional Doll. Nyamwezi, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
The body consisting of a gourd in a beautiful form and decorated with a simple contrasting band of old glass beads of white, red and blue.
A piece with a wonderful form that was tra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
1930
s Beaded Snuff Container. Zulu, Southern Africa
Located in London, GB
This intimately-sized 1930's Zulu snuff container has been beautifully decorated with glass beads. A circular opening features on one side, and on the other side, overlapping blue-an...
Category
1930s South African Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood, Beads
Mid-Twentieth Century Headrest in Animal-Like Form
Located in London, GB
This large mid-twentieth century headrest, carved from a single piece of wood, comes from the Dinka culture in South Sudan. With multiple upright supports, the headrest displays a wo...
Category
Mid-20th Century South Sudanese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Early 20th Century Reclining Lobi Backrest With Two Legs
Located in London, GB
With a low seat supported by two splayed legs, this Lobi backrest from Burkina Faso exhibits a wonderful form with a long, reclining back support. Throughout, the surface of the piec...
Category
Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Kuba Ceremonial Palm Wine Cup (
Mbwoongntey
), DRC
Located in London, GB
The decorative details adorning this ceremonial cup reflected the owner’s wealth, status and influence within the Kuba Kingdom. This anthropomorphic Kuba cup ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Rare 19th Century Zulu Studded Knobkerrie, South Africa
Located in London, GB
The large, mushroom-shaped bulbous head of this rare 19th century Zulu knobkerrie from South Africa has been decorated with an array of early metal tac...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
Finely Woven Tutsi Grass Fibre Screen (
Inyeqamo
), Rwanda
Located in London, GB
Rare to find, screens such as this would have been rolled down to separate the sleeping area and alcove in a traditional Tutsi household. The weaving, made from fine strands of grass...
Category
Mid-20th Century Rwandan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
1940
s - 1950
s Zulu Milk Pail (
Ithunga
), South Africa
Located in London, GB
This early-twentieth-century tall, narrow vessel, from the Zulu culture in South Africa, would have traditionally served as a milk pail.
Known as an 'ithunga', the vessel exhibits ...
Category
Early 20th Century South African Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Small 19th Century Kamba Elder
s Chair With Beaded Lizard Motif, Kenya
Located in London, GB
High-backed chairs of any form are rare in Kenya. This small elder’s chair, consisting of and a dome-shaped backrest, is supported by four legs.
The back ...
Category
19th Century Kenyan Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood, Beads
Fine Female
Biteki
Figure (Ex Romy Rey Collection)
Located in London, GB
This beautifully carved 'Biteki' figure, from the Yaka culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, depicts a female crowned with a large, abstracted coiffure. The figure exhibit...
Category
20th Century Congolese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Rare Raffia Fibre Pygmy Baby Sling or Carrier, DRC
Located in London, GB
This baby sling or carrier from the equatorial forest region of north-eastern DRC has an amazing contemporary appearance.
The carrier is made from multiple strands of twisted and kn...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia
Fine 1950
s Mbuti Bark Cloth With Biomorphic Motifs
Located in London, GB
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the asymmetric, spontaneous and animated patterns of bark cloths made by Mbuti women for dances, festivities and coming-of-age ceremonies ref...
Category
1950s Congolese Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
1960
s Himba Head Adornment
Located in London, GB
The Himba of Northern Namibia are immediately recognisable by their distinctive hairstyles, which are determined by their age, gender and marital status. Both Himba men and women wea...
Category
1960s Namibian Tribal Vintage Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber, Beads
Beautifully Formed 1930
s - 1940
s Pokot Elder
s Stool, Kenya
Located in London, GB
The form of this early twentieth-century Pokot stool from Kenya exhibits a beautiful sculptural quality, in which three curved, flared and flattened legs support the flat circular se...
Category
Early 20th Century Kenyan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
1930
s - 1940
s Woven Beer Pot Cover, Cameroon
Located in London, GB
Beautifully decorated covers such as this were traditionally placed over large earthen vessels of local brew, with the intricacy of their designs reflecting the significance of the v...
Category
20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Natural Fiber, Beads
19th Century Low Reclining Ethiopian Chair
Located in London, GB
Carved from a single piece of dense, heavy wood, this nineteenth-century Gurage low-set chair from Ethiopia exhibits an unusual, rare form. Consisting of a circular double-tiered seat with an angled, reclining back-support, the chair exhibits a deep glossy surface patina, particularly on the back-support and seat as a result of use. The chair is functional, and is reasonably comfortable to sit on.
Estimated Period: 19th Century
Ex Private Family Collection, Addis Ababa...
Category
19th Century Ethiopian Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Early Twentieth-Century Finely Carved Small Chair, Ivory Coast
Located in London, GB
This early twentieth-century small chair displays a beautiful form. Typically low to the ground, such chairs are found among the Dan and Baule cultures in the Ivory Coast. Carved fro...
Category
Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Mid-Twentieth Century Tall Female Figure With Bead Decoration
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century figurative sculpture, which comes from the Kwere culture in Tanzania, depicts a female standing in an upright stance, with her hands placed by her sides.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
Rare Form of Beaded Doll, Kenyan Coastal Region
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century beaded doll, which likely originates from the Kenyan Coastal Region around Mombasa, exhibits a rare form with a wonderfully simp...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood, Beads
Mid-20th Century Beaded Neck Adornment and Apron. Pokot, Kenya
Located in London, GB
Among the Pokot, body adornments are visual signifiers of power, wealth and status within the community. Given as a gift to a new bride by her husband, this finely beaded neck adornm...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan Tribal Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
African Currency, Thoung Knife
Located in Dallas, TX
Most forms were developed from traditional metal objects that were already in use such as weapons, tools, bracelets and anklets. While some continued to be functional for work or dec...
Category
15th Century and Earlier African Tribal Antique Unknown Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
Unknown tribal art for sale on 1stDibs.
Unknown tribal art are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Unknown tribal art, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original tribal art by Unknown were created in the folk art style in africa during the 20th century. Prices for Unknown tribal art can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $150 and can go as high as $24,458, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,600.
Questions About Unknown Tribal Art
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 9, 2024Yes, paintings by unknown artists may be worth something in some cases. When a painting’s maker isn't a well-known artist or is completely anonymous, factors like the visual appeal, historical significance, previous ownership and condition will determine the value of a painting. A certified appraiser or experienced art dealer can evaluate your piece using these criteria and provide you with an estimated value for your art. Shop a wide range of paintings on 1stDibs.