H. 48 cm, first half of the 20th century. Provenance: Private collection New York Bonhams New York, 12 May 2011 lot 2077. Estimate 8.000-12.000 USD (unsold). Guy van Rijn archive: ao-0006772-001

A particularly fine style pair of male and female wooden twins, Yoruba People, Nigeria, early 20th. century.

Provenanced to an important collection, we offer a large selection of high-end wooden african figures, all with the original surfaces and elaborate carvings, most dating back to the 19th.-early 20th. century (c. 1880-1930)

A couple with beautiful features of their large heads and with a malæe and female 'helmet' or hat...

A very high quality early wooden figure, Ivory Coast, Baulé, early 20th. century.

The figure appears facing the front, symmetrical with its arms resting on its stomach, which was a sign of peace for the Baulé people.

Wonderful facial expression even for the elaborate type, with its half-closed eyes, which resembles coffee grains, that give the face a serene expression...

Attractive figure from the first half of the 20th century. Serene face, great coiffure and the arms and hands positioned in front of the body. H. 34 cm. Provenance: Ex. Christensen Fund Collection. Coll. Number CC/40296 under the base of the figure (now invisible). Ex. Srdjan Sremac, The Hague. Guy van Rijn archive: ao-0202547-001.

Ogboni, Brass, Yoruba, Nigeria. H. 18 cm. 19th/early 20th century. The iron pins are missing. Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932 - 2021).

African antique mbulu ngulu reliquary guardian figure carved of wood and plated with textured copper. This figure is made by the Bakota (or Kota) people, a Bantu ethnic group from Gabon and Congo. Bakota people are known for these reliquary figures which were part of a powerful mystical order known as Bwete. This figure stands on a custom metal base.

Dimensions: 29 1/2" high x 13 1/4" wide x 6" deep (on stand)

Amazing Ibeji from Abeokuta with a deep glossy patina, dating from the early 20th century. H. 23 cm. Ex Ruth van Caelenbergh, Brussels, ex Sylvain Pette, France, ex Ian Shaw, UK, ex Mason Huynh, USA. Polished surface, restored at the base.

H. 20 cm. First half of the 20th century.  Ex Paolo Morigi (1939-2017), Magliaso-Lugano, Switzerland, Ex Nadya Levi (1929-2021), Antwerp, Belgium, Ex Fily Keita, Los Angeles, USA.

African Ceremonial ritual wooden drum (Pinge), Senufo people, African Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire), Korhogo region. Circa 1920-1950.

Entirely carved from one piece of wood, the sculpted figure depicting a bare breasted regal woman, seated on a stool, with upraised arms, an arched back, and a strong neck, gracefully supporting and balancing a drum on her head.

The drum is carved in low relief with symbols representing various animals, including crocodiles...

Antique African Wrist Knife with protective leather sheath. When the sheath is removed from the metal disc, a decorative piece worn on the wrist is turned into a lethal weapon. The Turkana are a pastoralist people of northern Kenya. Knowing no boundaries such knives can also be found in southern Ethiopia. Size 4.5" by 4.5"over 2.25" interior diameter very very sharp. Sorry no stand with this piece.

Old Ethiopian scroll painted and written on animal skin. Approx 200 x 9.5cm, in 2 part leather container. Evidence of damage on right side throughout. Undeciphered. Date estimated to be early 20th century or earlier.

This Antique leather Tuareg belt is from the African region of Timbuktu, Mali. The total length of the belt including the fringe is roughly 46 inches. The 2 leather talisman or amulets are flat and they loosely loop around the belt so their position can be re arranged. They were sewn shut, protecting the contents. Because of their inaccessibility...it is not possible to know if the contents are amulets or talisman. They measure roughly 3 inches x 2.5.....

Antique, late 19th century, African Mangbetu or Zande, bow harp, Kundi.

The sound box (Resonator) of the harp is made of wood and covered with snake skin, with one round opening on the anterior surface, and small holes for the strings.

There are no holes in the neck for the tuning pegs since the strings were fastened to the neck by the loops...

A very elaborate tobacco pipe bowl of the Ashanti people (present Ghana), knowing tobacco and the habit of smoking since the 17th century. A feline predator is standing on a rectangular base plate. Provenance: old collection from Berne, Switzerland. Condition: few traces of usage. Dimension: 8 cm x 8.5 cm.

Authentic antique late 19th – early 20th century African ancestral bronze mask with pierced eyes and mouth, decorated with incised pattern and pierced with a hole on each side and another hole on the forehead for suspension.

The interior hand painted near the edge with the museum or collection accession number.

CONDITION: Showing the age and usage with old dark natural patina inside and out.

DIMENSIONS:  Approximately 20.5 x 11.8 cm (8 1/8 x 4 5/8 inches)...

Large NGONTANG helmet mask (all seeing mask) from the Fang people in Gabon, very well used and worn and in great condition - pre 1920 and definitely rare.

Size: 41 cm - 2 kg

Known as Ngontang (or Ngontanga), this mask variety appeared among the Fang people of southern Cameroon and Gabon shortly before 1920. It represents a spirit of the dead visiting as a young white woman from the world beyond...

collection of 4 west African 'Gris gris' leather bound talismans containing protective amulets largest 13cm excluding neck cord. undated, estimated to be early to mid 20th cent. can be viewed in central London.

Important feminine Lobi Figure with arms up to pay tribute to death people H 70 cm, wideness between hands 26 cm