Pair of Yoruba Ibeji Twin Figures - Early 20th Century

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1940: item #796186
247

An attractive pair of Yoruba Ibeji twin figures probably carves during the 1920s or 1930s. Condition - there is an age crack to the male figure and half of the base of the female figure is missing. Male figure 7.8 inches (19.8cm) high, Female 7 inches (18cm) high.

African Songye Kifwebe Mask

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1960: item #796067
1543

Large African Wooden Songye Kifwebe Mask, circa mid-20th Century, Democratic Republic of Congo. Striated mask, or Kifwebe, are generally used by figures of authority to exercise political or social control. The female mask is predominantly white while the male is generally striated in three colors. 19" high and in excellent condition.

African Kuba Owl Mask

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1960: item #796060
1542

Large African Kuba Wooden Owl Mask, circa mid-20th Century, Democratic Republic of Congo. Hand carved with pricked ears, sharp pointed beak, and large rounded eyes. Pigments of cream, brown, and black. 22" high and in excellent condition.

A rare Nyanga helmet form mask

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1950: item #787719
N320

Related to the Lega , Kumu, Pere, and Nande peoples, the Nyanga group is part of the northeastern tradition of D.R.Congo. Friendly relations exist between all of these peoples and they share many cultural beliefs. They have no supreme being but rather numerous cults including ancestral, twin, fire, river spirit etc. The concave, whitened face plane of this rare object has been liberally powdered with a micaceous kaolin pigment while the rest of the sculptures patina is a gray-brown. This mos... Click for details

A Ogoni articulated wood face mask

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1950: item #782897
050

The Ogoni people live in the Niger river Delta area of Nigeria. They are primarily farmers and carvers of puppet-like figures and small masks. Originally, it was a face mask that depicted a fierce and ugly character from the "ekpo", or dead ancestor society. This type of mask or puppet head, with its moveable lower jaw, seems to have developed around the turn of the century. Gradually, it has lost some of its sinister appearance and association with the dead, but when the grotesque masks are... Click for details

A superb Senufo diviner's wooden seated female figure

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1940: item #779371
S14

This elegant divination figure was probably once accompanied by a male partner. The couple both represents and houses named spirits believed to maintain special communication with a diviner/soothsayer as a result of his or her continual sacrifices, abstinences, and other ritual observances. The pair of sculptures is carefully arranged with other divination objects each time he or she receives a client. The style is classical, specifically an ancient style that sculptors tend to associate with... Click for details

An Idoma wood face mask

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1950: item #769282
I47

Idoma people are renowned for their sensitively and delicately detailed art style. This small, light weight, wood mask is part of a play known as 'lughulu,' opposing pretty ladies against ugly males. The scoop-like muzzle and wide-open eyes dramatize the unattractive male dancer who does all he can to be attractive to the group of female beauties. Well patinated and showing evidence of good age and handling. Measuring 8" H x 6.50" W. From the Benue River region of Nigeria, early-mid 20th C... Click for details

A Yoruba "Esu" figure with cowrie shells

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1950: item #769269
Y126

Of distinctive type, the image of the 'guardian of the ritual way' covered with strands of cowrie shells indicating wealth and power. Eyes are inset with small pieces of metal. This deity is believed to grant riches to those who follow the sacrificial way of life and to steal from those who do not acknowledge his authority. If properly treated, Esu will intercede on behalf of humans in their appeals to the spirits, but, if he is dishonored and angered, he will garble messages and wreak havoc... Click for details

A fine Bwa wood plank mask (nwantantay)

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1960: item #769241
B1

This large and boldly painted mask called "nwantantay" was worn during the dance masquerades which precede and follow village funerals, and also for entertainment during harvesting and planting market days. The main face is that of an owl, a bird with supernatural, magical power. The circular forms on the flattened body and the open mouth possibly allude to the sacred wells in Boni that have been known to never go dry. The crescent form at the top is the so called "moon of masks" which shines i... Click for details

A superb Ndaka wooden face mask

Vintage Arts: Regional Art: African: Sculpture Pre 1950: item #768725
N332

A flattened, oval face mask, typical of the northern limits of the Maniema region of D.R.Congo. What is not typical is the complex use of white paint to highlight the front of the mask. This example shows a link to the Pere, Bira, and Kumu peoples from this territory. As best as we know, these simple but expressive masks represent nature spirits and are used in rituals related to this cult, worn only by male members of this closed association. In very fine condition with original painted sur... Click for details