Important masks representing a hyena head, H 36 From a well known french collection More information on Request

Large Widekum mask, of typical form, carved in relief, with an unusual cap, pointed scarifications, slit eyes, small nose, open rectangular mouth showing teeth, protruding chin. The mask is made in wood covered with animal skin. Cameroon, Upper Cross River, West Grassland region. Height: 47 cm. The mask is mounted on a custom stand. Good condition despite slight abrasion due to age. Provenance: old French Provincial collection, acquired in situ early 20th century.

A rare Mahogany table with deeply carved traditional West African style geometric decoration and with elegant stylized antelope form legs...

This collection of 3 hand carved wooden hair combs is from the Nigerian Yoruba tribe. They were brought to the US by a (then young) anthropologist who traveled extensively in Africa during the early 1960's and have been retained in his personal collection until recently.

The taller center comb is 8 inches and the shorter combs on the sides are 4.25 inches. I prefer to sell them as a collection.

Important shoulder mask from Wajda people a tribe close to Mumuye group , age is at least from mid 20th. Very hard wood , somme local repair , otherwise very good condition considering its age. H 146 cm wide 46 cm , depth 40 cm, the head is 2! cm wide

A large cow hide blanket, similar to a hide displayed at IES Museum, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At first appearance, one might think this in the style of western Native America rock art or primitive Australian aboriginal art, due to the abstracted human figure and geometric forms. However, the origin is Ethiopia or northeastern Africa. Extreme dimensions are 72" by 64". The age is difficult to determine...

An African Mali ceremonial mask. Hand carved with applied brass strips and cowlry shells. Beautiful patina, it measures 15" high x 9" across x 5".

Ex Joris Visser, Brussels. H. 55 cm. First half 20th century. Excellent condition.

Intricately carved face mask bearing horns, with features in relief, slit eyes, scarifications, stylised beard. Wood, with remnants of kaolin colouring on eyes, horns tips and coiffe. Fine age patina. Africa, Ivory Coast, Yaure ethnic group. Height: 33 cm. Insect infestation on right side (no more danger), otherwise good condition

From our African Collection: A Mali Bamana Figure on Horse. circa 1900. 12" wide at base, 60" tall. The Bamana Empire (also Bambara Empire or Ségou Empire) was a large West African state based at Ségou, now in Mali. This state was established after the fall of the Mali Empire and the Keita dynasty, as a smaller Bambara Empire founded by other Bambara families related to the Keita clan. It was ruled by the Kulubali or Coulibaly dynasty established c...

This large traditional Suriname Maroon wood comb has identical carvings on both sides and would have been worn for ceremonies. The Suriname Maroons were originally sub Saharan African slaves that were brought to and escaped from the Caribbean plantations. They fled to the hills where they established their own villages far beyond the the Spanish "authorities"who then ruled the Caribbean Islands at the time. The comb is 14.5 inches tall and 3.5 inches at the widest...

From our African Collection: An African Benin Bust made in Bronze from the 1960's. 4" at base, 12" h. The kingship of Benin is closely related to Ife. The first king, or Oba, of Benin is traditionally supposed to be a descendant of Oduduwa, the founder of Ife. The most distinctive examples of Benin craftsmanship are the bronze plaques, which adorned the palace walls. As in the artwork of Ife, the craftsmen of Benin produced bronze and copper heads celebrating the power of the Oba...

Helmet mask with three faces, Ekoi, Cross River, Nigeria.  Height 62 cm. Mid 20th century. Partly covered with antelope skin. The headdress and the three figures are attached on (partly new) wooden pins and can easily be removed for transport. There is old rodent damage to the figures. Ex Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands. A (heavy) stand can be included. More pictures available on request.

H. 23 cm. (Excluding the beard. Very good complete condition. The mask is covered with red fabric, the eyes are made of aluminium. Provenance: Klaus Paysan (1930-2011), Stuttgart, Germany. Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam. Exhibited: Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Schloss Rosenstein, Stuttgart - ‘Afrika, Tiere, Maske und Magie’.

From our African Collection: A Mossi Mask from Burkina Faso, 16" h. TYPES OF ART The Mossi make both political art and spiritual art. Figures are used by the ruling class to validate political power, and masks are used by the conquered peoples to control the forces of nature. Each year at the annual celebrations of the royal ancestors, figures of the deceased kings are displayed...

Fertility doll, called "akuaba", with its typical cross shape and flat circular head. Wood, with fine glossy patina. Africa, Ghana, Ashanti ethnic group. Height: 10" (26 cm). Old insect infestation at the back lower part (no danger), otherwise very good condition.

An African helmet mask decorated with glass beadwork from Bamum/Yoruba tribe, Cameroon. With a bird effigy. Circa 1940.

Helmet "ngontang" mask with four faces of circular form and a top of cross form. Wood with white and black pigments. Old collection mark inside. Africa, Gabon, Fang ethnic group. Height: 19.5 cm. Diameter: 15.5 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Abrasion, otherwise good condition. Provenance: French provincial auction sale.

19-20thc Uganda triple spout pot Ganda magic drinking Ndawula Walumbe Bamweyana Nakaima Muwanga. This rare pot was for ceremonial use and said to be for medicated beer. Probably early 20th c beautiful blackish burnished finish and cord impressed banding around the 3 spouts. Some slight scuffs to spout lip as well as lighter colored grey around rims though does not seem to be damage. No cracks quite heavy for the size comes with no stand. Weight 3.8 h 8" w 7"

Colorful altar from the Ketu region in Benin. Carved all around with a maternity figure and 3 other figures. At the back there is an opening with a tin frame. Probably this part was originally covered by a small door. H. 40 cm, D 30 cm. Mid 20th century or older. Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands. Guy van Rijn archive: ao-0104491-001. Hans Witte commented about this object: this form is typical for the Oshumare shrines from Ketu...

From Ibaden, Nigeria this traditional Yoruba cloth was woven by the men of the village. It was worn tied around the waist of the woman, and used as a baby carrier. This piece was brought back from Africa in 1961. Hand loomed of cotton fibers, it has a wonderful soft color and texture. It measures 10" wide and 68" long including fringe.

Ancestor figure. Ca. Mid 20th century. Strong posture and very good patina. The lower legs eaten by termites. H. 46 cm (51cm including the stand).

Impressive hardwood figure from the Benue region. H. 57 cm. Mid 20th century. Ex coll. Dr. Harald Simon, Germany.

Hardwood and iron. H. 38 cm. Provenance: Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam, Srdjan Sremac, The Hague.

From our African Collection: A Senufo Door from the 1960's. 20 x 48" Among the northern Senufo peoples, doors carved in low relief were signs of wealth and social status. In earlier times they were taken as booty in wars between villages. The designs most often refer to divination, bush spirits and sources of power. The central design is adapted from the scarification around a woman's navel, which symbolizes the order of the universe as set out by the Creator...

Fertility doll. H. 16,5 cm. Mid 20th century.

From our African Collection: a Beaded Yoruba Fertility Figure, 12" across base, 40" h. From the 1940s. Yoruba figurative sculptures for shrines dedicated to various deities often depict female devotees accompanied by children and holding bowls for kola nuts or other offerings. The Lid can be taken off to hold spices, herbs, food, nuts and other offerings to the fertility gods.

Stunning Yoruba stool from the collection of Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands. Supported by 6 figures: a family with a nursing mother, a man with a goat, a maternity and a man with a walking stick. H. 30 cm, diameter 33 cm. First half of the 20th century. Condition: age cracks, repair to the goat, some missing parts. Overall in good condition with a lovely patina and remains of Reckitt Blue pigments.

Anthropomorphic mask depicting a female. Hardwood with metal earrings. H. 24 cm. First half of the 20th century. A very fine mask with nice scarifications on the cheeks and forehead. Beautiful signs of age and a lovely patina. Ex Roger Bergmans, Belgium. Ex Srdjan Sremac, The Hague. Comes with a beautiful metal stand by Roger Bergmans.

Caryatid stool with a sitting female figure. Hardwood, h. 26 cm, diameter 23 cm. First half of the 20th century. minor repair to one leg. The earrings have been replaced. Provenance: Donald Taitt, Paris, Aponem Auction, 2019, J.M. Desaive, Herve, Belgium

African Colon Figures From our African Collection: Colon figures from the Ivory Coast made in the craft of the Baule people. $2,500 for the pair...

Janus-shaped helmet mask, the two back-to-back faces of a similar expression, surmounted by a semi circular flat coiffe. Wood, with glossy age patina. Africa, Nigeria, Idoma Peoples. Height: 14" (35 cm). Old insect infestations (no danger), small accidents and chips, otherwise very good condition.

H. 20 cm, mid 20th century. The clapper is missing. Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands.

Hardwood stool decorated with four carved figures. First half 20th century.One side shows two Yoruba women; the right one is feeding her baby, the left one is holding an unknown object. The other side shows to Yoruba men dressed in European clothing. The top and bottom of the stool are decorated with a geometric band. H. 29,5 cm, diameter 24 cm. Condition: age cracks, the right man is missing his hands. The stool shows good signs of use and has a great patina. Provenance: Ursula Voorhuis, The Ne...

From our African Collection: A Dogon Granary Door from the 1960s. 18 x 24" h. The Dogon are among African cultures that have remained closest to their ancestral traditions.One such tradition is building granaries and houses for grain storage. Doors of these granaries are often adorned with impressive carvings of animals or people which serve as invocations of deities or spirits, or as symbols of status. The stored grain is considered "safe" when it is guarded by the ancestors whose images a...

With a great offering patina. H. 16,5 cm. Mid 20th century or older. Ex Galerie Maine Durieu, Paris

These fertility fetishes were placed in the ground to promote the growth of crops. They were named after Legba, a trickster god of Vodun, who was usually pictured as young, virile, horned and phallic. H. 43 cm, first half of the 20th century. Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands.

Such figures (twins beaded) were reserved for high status "royal" tribal leaders for protection. Heavily decorated with beads, bone and cowrie shells, this pair is 80 years old and have some kind of marking on the bottom. sourced out of Fumbane (foumban), approximately 12 inches high

Interesting Yoruba figure from Eshu cult Bottom is damaged otherwise the figure is safe H 62 cm more information on request

From our African Collection: A Igbo Pipe Smoker Figure from Southeastern Nigeria. Circa 1940. 9" x 30" h. Extremely rare and in great condition.

Wood, animal teeth and hair, human hair, iron.H. 23 cm (without the beard). Van Rijn: ao-0161468-002 Provenance: William Siegmann, curator emeritus, Brooklyn Museum, New York.

From our African Collection: A Burkino Faso Flying Wing Shield, circa 1940. 24 x 72" Many of the ancient artistic traditions for which Africa is so well known have been preserved in Burkina Faso because so many people continue to honor the ancestral spirits, and the spirits of nature. In great part they honor the spirits through the use of masks and carved figures. The history of Burkina Faso is dominated by its largest ethnic group, the Mossi peoples. The Mossi founded powerful kingdoms i...

A weaving pulley ending in an expressive head with some scarifying. Carved from hardwood with dark patina, the reel is fixed with an iron wire. Collected by the Swiss ethnologist Charlotte von Graffenried, author of the book "Akan Goldweights". Condition: traces of usage, some wear, the face with fine cracks. Dimension: c. 19.1 cm high x 6.8 cm wide.

Very rare bronze quiver with four arrows, (their heads made of iron and shafts made of bamboo). The quiver is nicely decorated with geometric designs in relief and leather covers, with a nice reddish-green patina on the bronze. Dimensions: 54 cm long for the quiver and 40 cm long for the arrows. Cameroon, Kirdi ethnic group. Very good condition. NOTE: acquired in 1970 in North West Cameroon.

Lovemaking couple, mid 20th century. h. 35,5 cm. Provenance: Alain & Angèle Larem, Switzerland Madeleine and Jean-Jacques Keller (until 1980 Abidjan, later Rheinfelden). Good condition with nice age wear.

Male and female Ibeji from Iseyin City, Oyo State., adorned with a necklace and bracelets made of glass beads and a belt made of cocunut discs. H. 26,5 cm. First half of the 20th century. Provenance: Dutch private collection, Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam.

Rare Colon figure with blue pigments and great patina. H. 57,5 cm. Ca. Mid 20th century. Provenance: private collection The Netherlands. More pictures a available on request. Visit us at the Tribal Art Fair Amsterdam. www.tribalartfair.nl .

1st Half 20th century. Excellent condition with age wear and patina. Provenance: Karel van der Veer - Düsseldorf/Neuss Mamadou Keita - Amsterdam Zemanek - Münster 2017 Van Rijn archive ao-0038957-002 Yale archive 38837-01

From our African Collection: A Nomoli Figure from Sierra Leone made from Stone. 9" across at base, 24" h. Nomoli figurines are among the earliest works of art from Sierra Leone. The Nomoli figurines and similar stone sculptures are the only known remains of an empire that existed hundreds of years ago in what is Sierra Leone and Liberia today. Nomoli figurines are often associated with the Mende people as they are often buried on Mende land. They are used as oracles and for protection. ...

Ancient mask of oval flat form, with protruding forehead and nose, slit eyes, small open rectangular mouth showing teeth. Only one large hole on each side to attach the mask, and smaller holes around the mask probably to represent hair and beard. Wood, with remnants of kaolin colouring. Africa, Gabon, Fang ethnic group. Height: 32 cm. The mask is nicely mounted on a custom stand. Tiny accidents, otherwise very good condition.

From our African Collection: a Hand Carved container from the Easter Democratic Republic of the Congo, hand wrought. 8" x 15", 9" h. Congo’s many ethnic groups and regions have developed a mosaic of traditional arts, including painting, sculpture, music, and dance. There has been a tendency to classify sculpture and carving according to the styles of the areas from which they originate

Made of brass and iron. H. 26 cm. Provenance: W. Häusler, Thurgau, Switzerland, collected in Nigeria in the 1960’s, Hammer Auktionrn, Basel, Switzerland.

Hardwood vintage sculpture of an African ancestor image, from the Songye ethnic group, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Old piece, circa 1960s or 1970s a couple of cracks and repairs.. H: 45 cm/17.8in.

Bateba Phuwe, made by the ‘carver of the long neck’. Mid 20th century. H. 29 cm. Good condition. Literature: Katsouros/Herkenhoff - Anonyme Schnitzer der Lobi.

Baule maternity, Côte d’Ivoire. Made for sale by a traditional Baule carver in the 1920’s-30’s. According to Guy van Rijn there were two workshops in those days, where traditional Baule carvers produced objects for commercial purposes. H. 44 cm. Left hand missing, right arm repaired. Ex Dutch private collection, ex Srdjan Sremac, The Hague.

This tall figure was made by the Jompre people of Nigeria, although this appears to be an offensive name, probably given by the neighbouring Chamba, and meaning ‘cannibals’. Alternative names for the Jompre include Kutep, Kuteb, Kutev, Mbarike and Zumper. They inhabit the Benue Valley, on the border of Nigeria and Cameroon, an area that is still relatively undocumented. They number approximately 15,000 and are divided into a number of clans, each associated with a particular mountain, and tr...

Gelede mask - Yoruba - Ohori - Benin. H. 25 cm. Mid 20th century. Guy van Rijn archive ao-0110592-001. Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021).

Antelope mask from the Eastern Pende Peoples. Early to mid 20th century. Excellent age wear and patina. H. 45 cm. Yale archive: ao-0038719-001 Provenance: Coll. Christaens Coll. Joseph Hans, Brussels Mamadou Keita, Amsterdam Danny de Waele, Ghent, Belgium, 1995

H. 9 cm. Mid 20th century or a bit older. For a similar spoon see the screenshot of the Van Rijn Archive.

From our African Collection: A Baga Figure. 18" w, 48" h. TYPES OF ART Wooden figures, often worn or carried in the form of masks, are used by the initiation societies to educate initiates about the role of the spirits whom they represent. Large wooden serpent figures appear at initiations, and carved anthropomorphic figures are placed on shrines. The ancestors are represented in figures that embody both human and animal characteristics. Geographically the Baga belong to the coast, yet th...