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

Hardwood, first half 20th century. H. 18 cm. Old insect damage. Ex private collection Belgium, collected in Abidjan in 1968.

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

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.

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.

A weaving pulley in the shape of a woman with pinned-up coiffure ending in two horns. Carved from hardwood with dark patina, the reel is worked from a nut or another material. Collected by the Swiss ethnologist Charlotte von Graffenried, author of the book "Akan Goldweights". Condition: traces of usage, the body and one horn with a split. Dimension: c. 15.5 cm high x 7.4 cm wide.

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.

Mongo drum, DRC, 1st half of the 20th century. H. 73 cm. Dry patina. Provenance: Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam, Piet van Boxel (1938-2021),The Hague, collector of ethnic musical instruments.

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.

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.

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

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.

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...

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

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

From our African Collection: Igbo Figure from Nigeria 12" across, 20" h. Funerary Prince's Mask, purchased from Eastern Nigerian Ebo Family Ancestral Collection. The Igbo people are a meta-ethnicity native to the present-day south-central and southeastern Nigeria and also Equatorial Guinea.There has been much speculation about the origins of the Igbo people, as it is unknown how exactly the group came to form.Geographically, the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger...

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.

Silver Hamsa (five), Moroccan protective amulet in the shape of the hand of Fatima, ornated with a bird; 9 x 5cms. Morocco, Essaouira. CE 24 (see Bibliography)