Wonderful kneeling female Agere Ifa Figure from the Yoruba People made of wood and pigment, carrying a bowl. The figure has good age and shows much handling.
Such figures could well have been used in the divination process among the Yoruba called Ifa. Cowry shells, cola nuts, may have been kept in the bowl being carried by the woman...
From our African Collection: A Luba Shield from the mid 20th century. 15 w x 40" h.
The Luba people or Baluba are an ethno-linguistic group indigenous to the south-central region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The majority of them live in this country, residing mainly in its Katanga, Kasai, and Maniema provinces. The Baluba consist of many sub-groups who speak various dialects of Luba (e.g...
Mid 20th century. H. 60 cm.
ex Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam.
ex Srdjan Sremac, The Hague.
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".
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 .
From our African Collection: 2 Baga Snakes, both are 72" h.
The serpent Baga (Baga Snake), Kalimbe, or Bansonyi, refers to a protective spirit manifested in the form of a snake that presides over male initiation ceremonies among the Baga culture in Guinea, West Africa. Typically, during the days preceding the initiation ceremonies, two carved Bansonyies appear in the village and are decorated with streamers and colorful banners...
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Yoruba stool with a dog (?) , Nigeria.
Ex Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021).
Mid 20th century or older.
H. 28 cm, diameter 22 cm.
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.
From our Collection: Nigerian Bust from the Kingdo of Ife from the 20th century. 4" w, 19" h.
Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. The city is located in present-day Osun State. Ife is about 218 kilometers northeast of Lagos with a population of 509,813...
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.
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.
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. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands
Ex Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg
Guy van Rijn archive: ao-0102485-005 with comments from Ursula Voorhuis and Hans Witte.
The scene depicts the consultation of the Ifa oracle by a woman...
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.