Items Similar to Rare Form of Beaded Doll, Kenyan Coastal Region
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8
Rare Form of Beaded Doll, Kenyan Coastal Region
$1,771.99
£1,290
€1,511.15
CA$2,434.45
A$2,646.73
CHF 1,403.30
MX$31,727.61
NOK 17,835.23
SEK 16,339.50
DKK 11,293.94
About the Item
This mid-twentieth century beaded doll, which likely originates from the Kenyan Coastal Region around Mombasa, exhibits a rare form with a wonderfully simplistic, abstracted anthropomorphic appearance. Carved from a hard, dense wood, the body of the doll is flared at the base. At the top of the piece, multiple strands of red and white glass beads have been fastened to the 'head' of the doll. The surface of the piece exhibits a deep glossy patina, as a result of extensive handling over time.
The traditional custom, in which girls would keep 'dolls' such as this, was widespread in Eastern and Southern Africa. Girls would treat the dolls as if they were real babies, in order to successfully bear a child.
Provenance: Ex Private Collection, France
Estimated Period: Mid-20th Century (Or Before)
Height of Doll With Custom Base: 32.5cm
Width of Doll With Custom Base: 11cm
Depth of Doll With Custom Base: 11cm
- Dimensions:Height: 11.03 in (28 cm)Width: 3.94 in (10 cm)Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)
- Style:Tribal (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Mid-20th Century (Or Before)
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8736234684572
About the Seller
No Reviews Yet
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
1stDibs seller since 2023
8 sales on 1stDibs
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: London, United Kingdom
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllFine 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 Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
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
Antique Late 19th Century Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
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 Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
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 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 Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
1940
s - 1950
s Pare Maternity Figure, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
This finely carved mid-twentieth century figurative sculpture, from the Pare culture in Tanzania, depicts a female with large, prominent ears. Standing in a proud, upright stance, sh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Hardwood
You May Also Like
Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire.
This colorful example of African beadwork is a ceremonial doll...
Category
Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Cotton, Wood, Twine
Beaded Ndebele Initiation Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king...
Category
Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Wood
Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king...
Category
Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Wood
Turkana Tribal Wood Headrest, Stylized Human Form, African Beaded Attachments
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Turkana or Pokot people's tribal carved wood headrest, stylized human form, early 20th century, Kenya, African.
Headrest from Kenya with attached leather, beads, buttons and a metal finger knife. Great sculpture...
Category
Early 20th Century Kenyan Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
$1,560 Sale Price
20% Off
Akua
ba Ritual Fertility Doll
Located in Kastrup, DK
Carved wood Akuaba, sometimes known as an Ashanti doll or a Fanti doll.
Untouched condition with a beautiful natural age-related patina.
Akua'ba (sometim...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Early to Mid-20th Century Beaded Cache-Sexe, Kirdi People, Cameroon
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early to Mid-20th Century Beaded Cache-Sexe, Kirdi People, Cameroon
An unusual cache-sexe from the Kirdi tribe of Cameroon made of colorful glass trade beads, fiber string, and cowr...
Category
Early 20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Drawings
Materials
Natural Fiber, Beads













