Unknown

MUMUYE FIGURE

circa mid 20th century

Representing the forces of female fecundity, these statues were used in rituals to make these forces work. This type of figure was known under the tribal name of Alangua. Standing an...

“Scattered across the Ivory Coast, Mali and Burkina Faso, the million and a half Senufo tribespeople live principally off the fruits of agriculture and occasionally hunting. They in...

These cast figures and objects express status, prestige, and power. This cast metal figure exhibits the technical skill and artistry that Dogon blacksmiths brought to their work. Mad...

These cast figures and objects express status, prestige, and power. This cast metal figure exhibits the technical skill and artistry that Dogon blacksmiths brought to their work. Mad...

Elephant lidded kuduo container from the Ashanti peoples of Ghana. Kuduo were created to store valuable possessions such as gold dust and served the sym...

"I am influenced and gain insights through the exploration of artists and authors who consider the land and our place within it. This information along with my own investigations, re...

A Songye Male Power Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the male figure with openwork arms and hands resting on the abdomen, typical facial features and a waterbuck (kobus elli...

An elegant African sculpture from the West African Baoulé or Baule people, depicting a young woman wearing a loincloth. Smooth black lightly worn patina.

A large scale and beautifully carved wooden ceremonial mask from Cameroon. There are traces of colour and decoration to the surface and the mask has a magnificent patina giving it a wonderful presence as a sculptural object. The Batcham Mask or simply the Batcham originated in western Cameroon although its name refers to the place where it was first found: Batcham. This is a ceremonial mask from the Bamileke culture in the western Grasslands of Cameroon. This tall crest (76 cm in height) has clearly defined features, a powerful yet calm visage, sharply chiselled diamond and triangular furrows, and nearly perfect symmetry. Such painstaking craftsmanship underscores the sophistication and control of the sculptor in preparing this ceremonial piece. It shares the elements of Batcham masks including: The general morphology is built on two axes: a symmetrical vertical axis with chiseled furrows, stylized eyes, lips, nostrils, mouth and teeth; a horizontal axis presenting swollen cheeks, an ovular mouth showing multiple teeth, and triangular ears supported on a hollow cylindrical base. One interpretation is that the masks depict a hippopotamus emerging from watery depths, conveying nature’s power conferred to enthroned royalty. The Batcham mask represents the pi, or double animal of a great dignitary of the kingdom. It was used by a great dignitary of the Msop society who intervened only on rare occasions: during the funeral and enthronement of the king and the nine notables, and to perform the Royal Tso dance, elephant dance...

"Idgo Nigeria Female Standing" is a wooden statue with blue and white pigment created in Nigeria circa 1930. This figure stands up right with arms out slightly in front of her. A st...

This sculptural head is made in Haiti from mahogany wood. The wood has a worn, dark brown patina. The carving is somewhat minimalistic, thus giving a modern twist to a tribal gesture...

A Songye Male Power Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the male figure resting on one knee, with openwork arms and hands resting by the abdomen which contains various charms a...