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).
Kuba figure, a workshop piece from ca. 1920-1940.
This sculpture is typical for the Ecole de Mushengé. This was a school for crafts in the Kuba capital founded by Belgian missionaries, the Josephite fathers from Ghent. The numbers at the bottom confirm this. It represents a nobleman. H. 27 cm.
A great example of early commercial carving.
Provenance: a Dutch family by descend from their grandparents who lived in Congo.
Colon figure, Lobi, Burkina Faso.
H. 43 cm. Excellent wear and patina.
Mid 20th century.
Ex Pierre Taliercio, France.
Bochio figure, Fon, Benin
H. 42 cm, hardwood.
Nice cubist figure with good age wear.
Shrine object, Yoruba, Nigeria/Benin.
H. 74 cm, mid 20th century or older.
Ex Srdjan Sremac, The Hague.
Gelede mask - Yoruba - Ohori - Benin.
H. 25 cm. Mid 20th century.
Guy van Rijn archive ao-0110592-001.
Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021).
Fertility doll. H. 16,5 cm. Mid 20th century.
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.
A carved and decorated Nigerian mother with child on her back, early 20th. century.
Artful style depicting a mother in a kneeling position, holding an offering bowl, with her child strapped on her back. The image, on a rounded base, is carved from a single piece of light wood. The figure has an oval head and bulging almond eyes with prominent, eyelids. The nose is flared and the lips full and sensual. Six vertical scarifications are on both cheeks...
TORSO WITH PHALLUS
Primitive wood carving torso with phallus (like a body mask, though no displaying hole), originally flown out from a collector of African tribal art in Japan, though its details unknown and just told as it's from somewhere in West Africa, early-mid 20th century. approx. W 28 x H 57.5 x D 15 cm (11.02 x 22.63 x 5.90in). Not stand on its own...
Old Baule (Baoule) Colonial Period carved wood sculpture of a maternity figure or spirit spouse (Blolo Bla). With elaborate hair and ringed neck. Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire). Pre 1950. Approximately 18” tall.
Tugubele figures represent helpful bush spirits. The belong to the local ritual expert of the Senufo people, assisting them with their oracles and predictions.
This figure dates from the first half of the 20th century and shows good signs of use.
Provenance:
André Vanhecke, Belgium,
Srdjan Sremac, The Hague.
Anthropomorphic Lega mask from the Kievu & Maniema region in Eastern Congo. H. 22 cm.
First half of the 20th century.
Provenance:
Hans Petereit, Cologne, Germany
Fily Keita, Los Angeles, USA
Michel Boulanger, Liège, Belgium
Goldfield Auctions, Luxembourg, 27 June 2021, Lot 105.
Guy van Rijn archive: ao-0186890-001
Lovely small bird fetish from the early to mid 20th century.
H. 24 cm.
Ex Jean-Marc Desaive, Belgium,
Ex Srdjan Sremac, The Hague, The Netherlands,
Ex Berry de Bruijn, Hilvarenbeek, The Netherlands.
Impressive hardwood figure from the Benue region. H. 57 cm. Mid 20th century.
Ex coll. Dr. Harald Simon, Germany.
With a great offering patina. H. 16,5 cm. Mid 20th century or older.
Ex Galerie Maine Durieu, Paris
Large door lock from a door of a granary. H. 53 cm. Mid 20th century.
Ex French private collection.
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...
First half of the 20th century. H. 56 cm.
Ex Lucas Ratton, Paris.
Ex Jan Kusters, Eindhoven.
Ex Srdjan Sremac, The Hague.
Custom made stand included.
Two females from the Egba sub group of the Yoruba’s. H. 23 cm. First half of the 20th century. Ex French private collection. Condition: old insect damage and some old repairs to the ears of one of the figures.
Depicting two figures that are tied to one other. H. 22 cm. Ca. mid 20th century. Custom made stand included.
Very large doll made by a known carver. H. 40,5 cm. Second quarter of the 20th century. Condition: both arms reattached. Lovely honey brown patina. The style of this Akuaba with its unusual coiffure is described in the book ‘Akua’ba Asante Wednesday Child’ by Ron van Doorn and Herbert M. Cole.
Provenance: Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam. (Vetter at Parcours des Mondes, Paris).
Hardwood, first half 20th century. H. 18 cm. Old insect damage. Ex private collection Belgium, collected in Abidjan in 1968.
Bamana Sukun mask
First half 20th century.
Parts of the ears and a kind of horn on the forehead are missing.
Traces of polichromy.
Rare mask with great age!
Ex Swiss private collection.
H. 40 cm
Stand included.
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.
SPIRIT
Primitive wood carving spiritual object with head , used by Lega people (or Warega) as a Bantu ethnic group of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Length without string: 24cm (9.44in)...
Depicting a female spouse figure ‘Blolo Bla’. H. 13 cm.
first half of the 20th century. Great age wear and patina.
Ex coll. Maine Durieu, Paris.
The Baule believe a person is married to both an earthly and a spirit spouse. This sculpture honored its owner’s spirit partner to bring peace, luck, and money. Scarifications on her face and body individualized and enhanced her idealized beauty...
Wood covered with sheat metal. H. 30 cm. Mid 20th century. One horn repaired.
special price: from € 750 for € 300
Anthropomorpic female figure. Probably used as a headdress. H. 48 cm. Mid 20th century.
Provenance:
Kathy van der Pas en Steven van de Raadt, 1998,
Otto Schaap, Amsterdam,
De Zwaan, Amsterdam, 2020.
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
A late 19th to early 20th century Montol figure with a great provenance. This hardwood female figure stands 35,5 cm tall. A very strong figure with possible influence from the Goemai, Chamba or Mumuye.
Provenance:
Collected in 1967-68 by Daniel Mato, former curator at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary, department of art history.
Amyas Naegele, New York, ca...
Benue Plateau, mid 20th century. H. 40 cm.
Ex Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam.
Ex Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, March 2014.
The Djompre are a small ethnic group with their homeland in the Benue Plateau State in northern Nigeria. They call themselves Kutep or Kutev, the denomination Djombre - which means cannibals - has probably been given to them by the neighbouring Chamba.
Antique African Copper Bronze seated King or Oba with Rifle attributed to the Kongo peoples, Yombe group . Very well done near portrait bronze figure of probably a king holding a flint lock rifle seated in a very well made egg shaped chair. Size h 5" d 3.75" d 3.5"
From our African Collection: A Igbo Pipe Smoker Figure from Southeastern Nigeria. Circa 1940. 9" x 30" h. Extremely rare and in great condition.
Anthropomorphic dance figure. Wood and pigments. It has moving arms that are tied to the head. Ca. Mid 20th century or earlier. H. 73 cm. The Eket are a sub group of the Ibibio. Their material is quite rare.
Provenance:
Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam,
Srdjan Sremac, The Hague.
Male and female figure, wood, textile and glass. H. 32,5 and 36 cm. Mid 20th century. Provenance: Madeleine and Jean-Jacques Keller (until 1980 Abidjan, afterrwards Rheinfelden, Switzerland).
Superb old Benin bronze sculpture of a fish standing on 4 legs. This piece was made using the lost wax process. A must for anyone's collection, this fish has a wonderful patina and would also make a very interesting accent piece to any home decor. Measures 7" long, 4" high.
Exceptional pair of African wood carvings from the Nyamwezi tribes of Central Tanzania, the larger measuring 40 1/2" high, including stand, which is 6" x 6" square and about 1 1/2" high..
Both are carved of heavy dense wood, and the forms slightly vary due to the natural shape of the tree trunk or branch from which they were carved.
They have inset white bead eyes, which is typical, especially in early figures.
The elongated forms are striking, and they both have slightly bent knees, also typ...
An African helmet mask decorated with glass beadwork from Bamum/Yoruba tribe, Cameroon. With a bird effigy. Circa 1940.
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 .
A very impressive African tribal Senufo bird statue measuring 61.75 inches high with a 25" wingspan. The bird's wings are carved in relief with images of lizards, crocodiles, turtles and birds. The body beneath the beak has a carving of a large lizard. The rest of the bird features repeated geometric carvings on front and back. In very good condition with expected splits to wood and various minor conditions associated with age...
Palm Wine Drinking Cup, 20th Century
Lele people; Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wood; well carved portrait with some interior staining from use. Size h 8.5" w 6"
Large door lock, representing a standing female. The face expressing a great severity, is framed by a beautiful crenellated hair.
Hardwood. Old patina of use.
From Bambara tribes Mali
Antique African Ebony sculpture of a village woman.
Nice carving with good details. Probably early 20th c
Size 10.5"
Ife Benin Bronze Hip Plaque with Warriors and a leopard head. Size H 9" W 7" H 2"
Antique African Dogon Bronze Horse and Rider, well modeled and nicely mounted though one mounting pin came through the lower leg otherwise perfect condition. Nice almost contemporary feel. Size H 4.75" w 4" over all Height 5.75"
Female figurine, with typical flaring coiffe, hands posture, scarifications all over the body and truncated legs. Wood,eroded with age, with remnants of polychrome pigments. Africa, R.D. Congo, Kuba Peoples, Dengese sub-group. Height: 37 cm. Old restoratins, otherwise good condition.
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".
High quality pair of proud standing male and female figures from the Igbo people in Nigeria, made of strong and heavy wood and mounted on custom stands. The figures were made around 1950. Former collection of Dr. Heinz Werner Schmitt, Hamburg, Germany. Good condition with blackened patina and some cracks, no repairs.
Size: 47 cm height x 10 cm width.
Shipping included
Feminine figure of the "ekwotame" type, of typical face, with a squarish neck, sitting on a circular stool, her hands on her knees. Scarifications alongside the abdomen. Wood, with black and white pigments. Africa, Nigeria, Benue river region, Idoma ethnic group. Height: 63 cm. Some erosion, small losses, otherwise very good condition. Shipping charges: 50 euros worldwide.
Nicely carved feminine fetish with a fine coiffe, serene face with lowered lids, elongated neck, holding her breasts with both hands, and showing scarifications around her belly. Wood, with fine dark glossy patina. A piece of old textile of red color is meant to represent a skirt. Africa, D.R. Congo, Luba ethnic group. Height: 9 3/8" (23,7 cm). The figurine is mounted on a custom metal stand. Remnants of old insect infestation, (no danger), otherwise very good condition.
Light-weighted wood, made around 1950, brown patina, slightly shining, wide face with elaborate headgear, the eyes inset with glass. This figure presumably was created not as a magical figure ("nkisi"), but as a memorial figure of a female ancestor, who was donated for being the female founder of the lineage. Such sculptures, called "ngudi" (mother of the lineage), used to be kept in a basket, together with further relics belonging to the kinship...
Finely carved dance crest representing a female bust with an elaborate coiffe. Wood, with glossy dark-brown patina. Africa, Nigeria, Idoma Peoples. Height: 11 1/8" (28,2 cm). The piece is nicely mounted on a custom bronze stand. Old insect infestation (no danger), otherwise very good condition. Ex. old French collection.
Interesting Yoruba figure from Eshu cult
Bottom is damaged otherwise the figure is safe
H 62 cm
more information on request
This 11" fetish is carved from a dark ebony colored work and has no paint work. The poultice sacks on the body are in excellent condition. Very beautiful, very desirable.
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.
Hardwood group depicting a horse rider surrounded by a kneeling figure and two drum players.
H. 19 cm. First half of the 20th century. Some missing parts on the kneeling figure.
Ex coll. Ursula Heijs Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands.
Ex Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, Germany.
H. 85 cm. Mid 20th century. Artist: Tage from Kpwazang (?)
Provenance:
Norfolk State Museum
Marc Assayag, Montreal, Canada
Srdjan Sremac, The Hague
Auction: Dorotheum Vienna, ‘Tribal Art’, March 2022.
A very rare group from Ketu, Benin, probably used as a divination tray or as a display piece for an important Babalawo. Diameter 52 cm, H. 30 cm. Mid 20th century. The hand of one figure has been replaced.
Ex coll...
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. The colors red-white-yellow point to th...