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Tribal Folk Art

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Style: Tribal
Carved Wooden Statue of a Ju Ju Man, Egba People, Abeokuta, 1940s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Tall hand-carved wooden statue of a Ju Ju Man crafted by the Egba People in Abeokuta, Ogun State (part of Nigeria), circa 1940s. The pupils are made from nails, which intensifies the...
Category

1940s African Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Early and Unusual Loop-Pile Beni Ouarain Moroccan Berber Rug
Located in Milan, IT
The Beni Ouarain confederation is composed of seventeen tribes inhabiting the high mountain region of the northeastern Middle Atlas. Their rugs differ from other Berber weavings in t...
Category

1920s Moroccan Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Shona Stone Sculpture "Sheltering Soul" Norbert Shamuyarira (Zimbabwe, b. 1962)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An African Shona Stone Sculpture titled "Sheltering Soul" by Norbert Shamuyarira (Zimbabwean, Born 1962), depicting an abstract polished Shona stone figure of a crouched and bowing h...
Category

Late 20th Century Zimbabwean Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Stone

Ere Ibeji Female Commemorative Figure, Yoruba People, Nigeria, early 20th C
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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 ...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Africain Wooden Ligbi Mask Protruding Plate on the Head, Ivory Coast 1980s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Ligbi mask, with a protruding plate on the head engraved with decorative motifs. Highlights of blue pigments and kaolin enhance this small mask, satin black patina. The appearance is...
Category

1980s Ivorian Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Graphic Eastern Moroccan Vintage Abstract Berber Rug
Located in Milan, IT
The Berber carpets from eastern Morocco, near the border with Algeria, are distinguished by wild patterns and audacious color combinations. This example displays all of these charact...
Category

1940s Moroccan Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool

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 Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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 Folk 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 Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Fantastic Peruvian Indian Lama Lambs Wool Bolster Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This soft and luxurious lambs wool pillow has a wonderful fun lama and is a weaving from Peru. This Peruvian Indian weaving is a wonderful statement in a room or sofa.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Antique Cappadocian Zili Flat-Weave Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Woven in a complex flat-weave technique known as Zili, this superb example originates from the area of Sivrihisar, located in Cappadocia. The background is entirely in wool and the a...
Category

1880s Turkish Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Cotton, Wool

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 Folk Art

Materials

Beads

Painted Baule Blolo Bla Figure
Located in Chicago, IL
The figurative sculptures of the Baule peoples of Cote d'Ivoire are recognizable by their strong, gently curving forms and serene composure. This figure of a woman was carved to repr...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Kirghiz Embroidered Tent Band
Located in Milan, IT
A rare complete tent band, embroidered in wool on a felt background, embellished at its bottom by polychrome tassels. The Kirghiz people of Central Asia empl...
Category

1930s Kyrgyzstani Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Boucherouite Moroccan Berber Flat-Weave Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Woven with the exclusive use of recycled industrial yarns of various type, ranging from cotton to lurex, its weft directed pattern converges towards the centre, in a manner that remi...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Cotton

Vintage Berber Moroccan Ourika Valley Eye Design Flat-Weave Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Woven with natural, undyed wool, flat-weaves such as the one illustrated here are characteristic of the Berber people located in the Ourika Valley, in the Moroccan High Atlas region....
Category

1940s Moroccan Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool

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 Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Beads

Mende Women s Helmet Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
This helmet mask created by the Mende people of Sierra Leone was made for the women of their tribe to wear while dancing. Commissioned by women for their ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Large African Tribal Art Metal and Parchment Wall Shade Sconce
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These ethnic Art pieces could be used as wall lamp shade or decorative wall hanging. Great folk art African...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage Geometric Kirghiz Wool Felt Square Rug, 1940 s
Located in Milan, IT
Felts are among the first woollen structures made by mankind. Some of the earliest we know were found in the kurgans of Central Asia. This tradition continued until recently, althoug...
Category

1940s Kyrgyzstani Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Ere Ibeji Female Commemorative Figure, Egba, Yoruba People, Nigeria, 20th C
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Ashanti Maternal Fertility Figure
Located in Atlanta, GA
On offer is an Ashanti female fertility figure from Ghana, West Africa, circa Mid-20th century. Carved from a single block of wood, the statue depicts a female with typical coiffure ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Glass, Wood

Ashanti Maternal Fertility Figure
Ashanti Maternal Fertility Figure
$2,000 Sale Price
33% Off
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 Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood

Ere Ibeji Pair of Commemorative Figures, Egba, Yoruba People, Nigeria, 20th C
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

African Yoruba Painted Gelede Headdress
Located in Chicago, IL
This painted mask was created by the Yoruba People of western Nigeria, and was worn during a tradition known as Gelede. A blend of ritual and artistic spectacle, Gelede pays homage to the women of their Community, understood to possess spiritual powers capable of the benefit or the destruction of society. The Gelede masquerade is an opportunity to honor or condemn behaviors within the Community, through dance, art, satire, and poetry. Worn by veiled dancers, Gelede masks...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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 Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Iron

African Red Green Painted Mortar
Located in Chicago, IL
Abstract and sculptural, this wooden form demonstrates the timeless appeal of African art. Hand-carved to an hourglass shape, the unusual figure is actually a grinding mortar, compri...
Category

20th Century African Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Australian Aboriginal Painting on Hollow Log
Located in Atlanta, GA
Lorrkon hollow log. Artist: Bronwyn Kelly. Year of birth: 1974. Nationality: Australian. Region: West Central Arnhem Land. Language group: Kuninjku. M...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Australian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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 Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Natural Fiber

Vintage Moroccan Authentic Tribal Kilim Rug North Africa
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Zemmour rugs are flat woven by the Berber women leaving near Khemisset, Zaiane and Azrou.This flat weaves, Kilim rugs are often used a wall coveri...
Category

1950s Moroccan Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool, Cotton

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 Folk Art

Materials

Shell, Natural Fiber, Beads

Standing Carved Wooden Figural Spoon, Yoruba People, 1960s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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...
Category

1960s Nigerian Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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 Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood

Ethiopian Milk Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
The Borana Oromo people of southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya are historically a cattle-keeping culture, and each household keeps a number of traditional vessels for storing and ch...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Other

Carved Wooden Statue of a Dancer "Queen Dancer", Egba People, Abeokuta, 1950s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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...
Category

1950s Nigerian Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Tuareg Tent Poles, Mid Century
Located in Wien, AT
These big wooden beams from bedouin tents from the Sahara were Mid-20 Century made. The rich carving gives information about the respective tribal affilia...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Cedar

Baule Painted Kpan Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
To ward off evil and exert positive influences on the spirit world, the Baule people engage in a daylong masquerade known as the Goli. A sequence of four masks are donned during the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Hardwood Chokwe Bench, Angola, 19th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
A fine and elegant hardwood Chokwe (Angola) bench, carved all-over with geometric patterns, human and animal motifs. The front rain supported with caryatids in the form of male figu...
Category

Late 19th Century Angolan Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Leather, 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 Folk 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 Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Terracotta Bura Spirit Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Buried with their flared mouths facing down, these cylindrical storage vessels protected the deceased's possessions as they transitioned to the afterl...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerien Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

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 Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Beads

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 Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Senufo "Wanyugo" Firespitter Helmet Mask, 19th C.
Located in Astoria, NY
Senufo "Wanyugo" Firespitter Helmet Mask, 19th century, with double-sided mythical beasts, mounted on patinated black metal stand. 20" H x 27" W x 12" D. Provenance: From a 35 East 7...
Category

19th Century Burkinabe Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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 Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Djerma Painted Water Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
The Djerma people of Niger are well-known for their gracefully shaped and delicately painted water containers. The surface paintings are applied after firing with all natural pigment...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerien Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

Bobyrug’s Wonderful Antique Kurdish Runner
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful 19th century tribal runner with beautiful geometrical design and beautiful natural colors with blue, red, blue, yellow and green, entirely and finely hand knotted with...
Category

Mid-19th Century Asian Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool

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 Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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 Folk Art

Materials

Natural Fiber

Helmet Crest Ngoin Mask from Cameroon Africa
Located in Atlanta, GA
This Helmet Crest mask is categorized as a “Babanki” style Ngoin mask from Northwestern provinces of Cameroon circa first half of 20th century. In part of highland area called “Camer...
Category

20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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 Vintage Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Natural Fiber

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 Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

Decorative Antelope Horn Brush
Located in Queens, NY
Large decorative African brush with a black antelope horn handle and thin red straw bristles.  
Category

20th Century African Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Horn

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 Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood, Beads

Terracotta Bura Spirit Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Sometimes called a "Bura bell" due to its shape, this sculptural terra cotta object was part of the Bura tribe's burial ritual. Buried with its flared mouth facing down, this cylindrical storage...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerien Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

African statue Senoufo Horserider stylised figure , Ivory Coast C 1950s
Located in Paris, FR
Statue of a rider on his mount from among the Senufo tribe settled in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. Carved from dense wood. beautiful patina. The statue has a custom made acrylic base....
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Shell, Raffia, Acrylic, Wood, Carbon Fiber

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 Folk Art

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Naga TOTEM, North-East India, 19th Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Coming from the area of influence of the Naga people, this stunning monolitic piece is an extraordinary example of their cultural views. The Nagas are a conglomeration of different t...
Category

19th Century Southeast Asian Antique Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Antique Tribal Sumak/Sumac/Soumak Carpet, c. 1910-20 s
Located in Milwaukee, WI
Gorgeous Geometric Antique Sumak Carpet Navy, Coral & Rust Stunning Textile Sumac About: STUNNING PIECE - All Encompassing Beauty right here with Village Motifs and Nomadic Essence...
Category

20th Century Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Wooden Head of an Ooni of Ile-Ife, Yoruba People, Nigeria, circa 1930s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Tribal folk art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Tribal folk art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, rugs and carpets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Tribal folk art made in a specific country, there are Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Yoruba People, Baule Tribe, and Benin People. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $104,031 while the average work can sell for $1,853.

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