Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
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Place of Origin: Sub-Saharan African
Hoe-Shaped Iron Currency "Mbili Ngbaka, " Ngbaka, D.R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Hoe-Shaped Currency "Mbili Ngbaka," Ngbaka, D.R. Congo
20th century
Iron, accumulation
16 x 7 in. / 41 x 18 cm
Height on custom display stand: 18.25 in. / 46 cm
This interesting type of iron currency was used for major transactions such as dowry payments. The two wings added to the lower tips of the hoe underline the non-utilitarian character of this type of currency (Ballarini, "The Perfect Form...
Category
20th Century Other Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Large Tutsi Prestige Basket
Located in London, GB
The distinctive sculptural form of this large Tutsi fibre basket from Rwanda - woven with the same double-layer 'igihisi' structure used to create Tutsi wall screens - is an expressi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Luba Kifwebe Sandals
Located in Sharon, CT
Rare pair of African sandals, with beautifully articulated little Luba
'Kifwebe' (mask) heads as toe holds. Wonderful aged 'footprints'
produced from great use.
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$1,100 / set
Set of Five Iron Phallus Fertility Figures
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful set of five early 20th century iron phallus figures from Togo. Fertility figures like these were planted in the ground of a farmer's fiel...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
$3,200 / set
20th Century-African, Iron Object Made by the Lobi Tribe of Burkina Faso, Africa
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
An iron figurine made in Africa around the 20th century.
In many countries in Africa, iron objects are used for objects, coins, tools, and rituals.
Dogo...
Category
20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Dogon Beadwork
By Dogon Tribe Mali
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a very rare string of 'Moon and Star ' beads from the Dogon people of Mali. The Dogon History and lineage are designated by the stars hence the iconography of the beadwork. T...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Glass
$523
Carved Wood Miniature Baule Bush cow Mask Stand Ivory Coast Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Old carved miniature wood mask with traces of red and green pigment, from the Baule people of Ivory Coast, Africa. Representing a bushcow, and dating from the early 20th century. Mas...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$760 Sale Price
20% Off
Kuba Woman
s Ceremonial Skirt, D.R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Noblewoman's Skirt.
Kuba People, DR Congo.
Raffia palm fiber, appliqué, embroidery.
Measures: 146 x 31 inches (371 x 79 cm).
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Raffia
Pende mask Congo
Located in Haaltert, BE
Authentic Pende mask from Democratic Republic of the Congo. Panya ngombe, the anthropo-zoomorphic face with elongated slit eyes, short overhanging forehead, slender nose, and carved,...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$2,683
Standing Akan Ghana Tribal Female Figure Early 20th Century Africa, Black Hair
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Akan, Ghana, shrine figure, a standing female figure with black hair and details, remains of white pigment, with arms out holding a bottle, includes custom metal base. Probably a fig...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$822 Sale Price
44% Off
Mounted Early 20th Century Mende Country Cloth
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful early 20th century Mende handwoven Country Cloth composed of twelve narrow strips of indigo and cream dyed cotton and arranged to create a checkerboard pattern, and hand ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Antique Toposa shield
Located in Haaltert, BE
Beautiful early 20th century Toposa shield, made of leather and wood. Collected from a private Parisian collection and mounted on a custom made metal display. A Toposa shield is a tr...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Animal Skin
Ancient African Wooden Stool
Located in Soho, London, GB
Ancient wooden stool with four feet dating to the 19th century. From Congo, Africa.
Provenance: Galerie Démons et Merveilles, Paris; Private Collection, United Kingdom.
Category
19th Century Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Igbo Iron Spiral Currency (Manilla), Nigeria
Located in London, GB
This nineteenth-century spiral currency (Manilla), from the Igbo culture in Nigeria, is impressive in its size and exhibits a wonderfully exaggerated twisted, spiral form.
Spiral ir...
Category
19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
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 Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Mambila Large Female Figure African Sculpture
Located in Sharon, CT
Authentic old piece, retaining some of the original painted surface. Art from the Cameroon tribes played a great role in influencing and inspiring the German Expressionists.
Though ...
Category
Early 20th Century Modern Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Mumuye Iron Flat Spiral Currency, Nigeria
Located in London, GB
A fine incised iron flat spiral currency from the Mumuye in Nigeria. A similar example of iron currency can be found in the Ghysels Collection, as published in 'A World of Belts' (20...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Large Figurative African Mangbetu Anthropomorphic Vessel / Jar
Located in Studio City, CA
This is a fantastic piece likely made by the Mangetu tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is finely detailed and quite large and hefty. These pieces were originally made...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Terracotta
Nupe Incised Water Vessel
By Nupe
Located in Chicago, IL
The Nupe people of Nigeria were touted as some of the finest ceramicists in Africa. Everyday objects, like this water vessel, received detailed attention. The vessel's varied texture...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Bronze Currency Bracelet/Manilla, Dogon People, Burkina Faso, 19th c. - No 3
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
19th-century bronze currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Intricate graphical design with a lattice pattern. This type of bracelet was worn or used by the...
Category
Mid-19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Kuba Ceremonial Raffia Textile Panel with a Hat from Lesotho Tribal Art Drc
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Kuba ceremonial raffia textile panel
Together with a hat from Lesotho
Ceremonial textile panel,
Woven raffia-velvet cloth square panel with geo...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Raffia
Large Curved Hoe Currency, Angas, Nigeria
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Extra Large Curved Hoe Currency
Angas, Nigeria
Early 20th century
Iron
25.25 x 17.5 in. / 64 x 44 cm
Height on custom display stand: 29.75 in. / 76 cm
Weight: 12.8 pounds / 5.8 kg
Combined weight with base: 20.6 pounds / 9.3 kg
The large currency forms are comprised of a heavy sheet of iron forged into the shape of a curved hoe. They were customary gifts for a bride’s father as well as having a function during wedding celebrations (Ballarini, The Perfect Form...
Category
Early 20th Century Other Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Fine Tribal Bambara Cubist Figurative Wood Door Lock Early 20th c Mali Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Fine Tribal Bambara cubist figurative wood door lock, early 20th century Mali, Africa great abstract figure with strong cubist stylized elegant face.
The Bambara of Mali use decorated door locks sliding horizontal bar and with a removable key (missing here) to secure the doors to houses or millet granary. This door lock shows a stylized human body with strongly sculpted face and carved notch in back to hold the movable cross bar. The rectangular body is decorated with fine, geometric line...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$975 Sale Price
50% Off
Tribal Textile, Kuba Shoowa 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
A late 19th or early 20th century Kuba Prestige cloth, mostly embroidered with cut pile borders.
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Tuareg Leather Camel Saddle from Niger Agadez Africa
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Tuareg leather tribal camel saddle from Agadez, Niger Africa.
Finely handcrafted camel saddle formed by stitching brightly colored leather embossed onto a forked wooden base. The sa...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
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 stylized male face with finely carved beard. Wonderful asymmetrical incised classic Kuba crisscross design for hair. Deep patina from extensive use, early 20th century. Chips to top rim. Decorated rim to base.
Measures 7 x 3 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. Kuba palm wine cups...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$2,360 Sale Price
20% Off
Solid Brass/Nickel Alloy Cuff Bracelet, Nupe People, Nigeria, 20th Century
By Nupe
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Early 20th-century brass or copper alloy with higher nickel content. Bracelet in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Turned design with rectangular shapes and carved swirling patterns...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Gong Currency, Chamba, Nigeria
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Chamba, Nigeria, Africa
Iron
Early 20th century
14.5 x 7 in. / 37 x 18 cm
Height on custom display stand: 16.5 in. / 42 cm
Various models of these original currency bearers were...
Category
20th Century Other Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Sweet Bird Topped Carved Wood Bambara Wood Door Lock, Mali Africa Mounted
Located in Point Richmond, CA
A very sweet small sized carved wood bird topped door lock from the Bambara people of Mali Africa. Originally would have had a horizontal sliding cross bar lock, now missing.
Mount...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$510 Sale Price
40% Off
Ashanti Bronze Ceremonial Staff Top Hoe with 3 Turtles, Ghana
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Ashanti cast bronze ceremonial staff top in the shape of a hoe with 3 cast turtles, from Ghana.
It is in good condition with a deep patina and polish from traditional use, appropria...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Sleep Guardian or Kata Sergo Ethiopian TOTEM 3 in Solid Natural Cedar Wood
Located in Paris, FR
TOTEM 3 sleep guardian or Kata Sergo from the ethnic
Gorague´, South / South West Ethiopia. Different ridges
are intended to evacuate the bad vibes from the fireplace
to the top hous...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
A Carved Ebony Prestige Staff Depicting an Important Elder or Leader
Located in London, GB
A Carved Ebony Prestige Staff Depicting an Important Elder or Leader wearing a Head-Ring ‘Isicoco’
His waistband neck-ring and eyes inlaid with brass studs, his hands carved to his s...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Ebony
Makonde Figure Depicting Jesus, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
This African Jesus exhibits finely carved features. Depicting a black Jesus with his head leaning to one side, wearing a crown of thorns and with his arms outstretched on the cross. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Kuba Ceremonial Dance Outfit
By Kuba
Located in Sharon, CT
Painted bark with traditional Kuba patterns. This is a dance outfit, the wearer would be masked.
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Carved African Luba Caryatid Ceremonial Stool Female Male Child Figures
Located in London, GB
Carved African Luba Caryatid Ceremonial Stool Female Male Child Figures
African, 20th Century
Height 47cm, diameter 32cm
This finely carved Luba caryatid stool from the Democratic R...
Category
20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Driftwood
African Fulani Currency Bracelet, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Characterized by its open shape capped with geometric ends, this bracelet is but one form of the many types of body adornments favored the Fulani people of West Africa. The thick des...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Tutsi Baskets
By Tutsi People
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a beautiful pair of Ceremonial Baskets from the Tutsi people of Rwanda in East Africa.
These baskets are handwoven and given as Wedding gifts with a trinket inside each bask...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Reed
$1,074 / item
Seated Female Figure on Stool Holding a Sword Ewe Ghana, West Africa ex Willis
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Seated female figure on classic Akan stool holding a sword. From the Ewe people of Ghana, West Africa. Created as three separate carved pieces of wood that fit together for display,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Ashante Akua Ba
By Nicholas Africano
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a very fine example of an ' Akua Ba ' doll from the Ashante people of Ghana . Akua ba means 'welcome child ' in the Twi language of the region.
Carved from a very light weig...
Category
Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$798
Early Twentieth-Century South African Headrest
Located in London, GB
This fine early twentieth-century headrest, from the Zulu culture in South Africa, was previously part of a selection of exceptional Southern African art in the Terence and Bernice P...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Small Dancing Lobi Figure With Arms Out, Cubist Face Ghana West Africa ex Willis
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Small dancing Lobi figure with arms out, and cubist face from Ghana, West Africa. ex James Willis, San Francisco, CA. Damage to proper right hand, fingers absent. Heavy encrusted p...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$680 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Figurative African Mangbetu Anthropomorphic Ceramic Vessel or Jar
Located in Studio City, CA
This is a wonderful piece likely made by the Mangetu tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is finely detailed and quite large and hefty. These pieces were originally made...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Terracotta
Vintage African Mounted Wooden Sculpture
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a lovely vintage African mounted wooden sculpture.
Made circa 1960 most likely in West Africa by the Luba Tribe.
It is a large wooden s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
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 Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Bamileke Textile Hanging, Ndop
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Ndop Panel
Bamileke people
Cameroon Grasslands
Cotton strip weave with a two part dyeing process: stitch-resist indigo dye on a pre-dyed cloth.
Measures: 39 x 59 1/2 inches (99 ...
Category
20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Painted Ibibio Polychrome Face Mask with Figure on Top, Nigeria Africa colorful
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Fine Painted Ibibio Polychrome Mask with Figure on Top, Nigeria Africa. Expressive small figure on top with one hand on top of head, other holding stom...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$2,065 Sale Price
30% Off
Baule Lost Wax Cast Bronze Circular Discs Butterfly Ivory Coast Africa Based
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Circular Lost Wax Cast Bronze Discs or pendants, one with beautiful butterfly in low relief. The other has abstract design, both have finely modeled rings as background to the design...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Kenya Tribal Wood Headrest, Stylized Natural Animal Form, African Old and Worn
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Kenya tribal wood headrest, stylized natural animal form, early 20th century, African.
Early Rendille or Borana Headrest from Kenya. Using naturally found branch connections to form a stylized three legged animal form, these headrests were a treasured personal item...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Rain Making Currency, Mumuye, Nigeria
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mumuye, Nigeria
Iron
22.75 x 5 in. / 28 x 13 cm
Height on custom display stand: 24.5 in. / 62 cm
Category
20th Century Other Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Wooden Neckrest - Karamojong People, Uganda.
Located in Leuven , BE
A wonderful headrest from the Karamojong People of Uganda in eastern Africa. It is made out of one piece of wood with the legs having a nice bend shape, supporting on a circular bloc...
Category
20th Century Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Kuba Palm Wine Bowl with Handle Geometric Motifs All Around
Located in Miami, FL
Yak milk Jar with handle, finely carved with geometric motifs all around the piece. Tribal Art from North Nepal beginning of 20th century, from the Himalaya c...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Matching Pair of Yoruba Twin Figures Ibeji Nigeria African Tribal Art beads
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Matching rare pair of stocky male twin figures "Ibeji" from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Africa, created in the early 20th century. Dressed with matching glass bead necklace and bra...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$1,320 Sale Price / set
44% Off
Early 20th Century Chiwara Headdress, Bamana
Bambara
People, Mali
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early 20th century Chiwara Headdress, Bamana (Bambara) People, Mali
Chiwara headcrests represent the antelope spirit who taught the Bamana people ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Salampasu Mask
By Odense Maskinsnedkeri
Located in Glasgow, GB
A very fine mid 20th century example of a circumcusion mask from the Salampasu people of Congo. These masks were danced prior to young boys circumcision ceremonies to scare away evil...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Boxwood
$1,074
African Incised Copper Currency Anklet, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Time honored texture and form define this Nigerian copper sculptural object. The intricate geometry was achieved through a process known as scarification. The artisan would meticulou...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Copper
African Bug Bead Necklace, Old Hand-Cast Metal Beads
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Fulani, Nigeria
Hand-cast brass beads on a hand-woven cord
19th century
Measures: 17 in. / 43 cm
8 oz. / 227 g.
Category
19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Incised Copper Currency Anklet
Located in Chicago, IL
Time-honored texture and form define this Nigerian copper sculptural object. The intricate geometry was achieved through a process known as scarification. The artisan would meticulou...
Category
19th Century Tribal Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Early Carved Wood Tribal Mangbetu Ritual Vessel Pitcher Congo Africa Provenance
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early carved wood tribally used Mangbetu ritual vessel, from the Congo, Africa.
Ritual vessel in the form of a wood pitcher with handle, expressive face with scarifications, organic ...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$3,465 Sale Price
30% Off
Senufo Copper Reeds Currency Bracelet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
The traditional form of the Senufo currency bracelet is stripped down in this more minimalistic version. Two gracefully upswept bands join to form a ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Sub-Saharan African Folk Art
Materials
Copper
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