African Makonde tribe ceremonial carved wood mask of a human head with real human hair. 19th century. An early and rare ceremonial mask that was actually for tribal use, utilizing genuine human hair.

A pair lovely unmounted figural staves, unusually large and detailed for the type, comes with a deep natural patina from old age.

These two figures known as edan have been cast in brass over iron rods. Each is a seated figure of the opposite sex. They are linked by a chain attached to loops to the tops of their heads. The figures resemble Onile, the owner of the earth, in both male and female forms.

Size: 27,5 cm...

A fine and very varied selection of 11 currency cobber, bronze and brass currency (money) bracelets of larger sizes, West to North Africa, ca. 17th-19th. century.

The collection consists of a huge Nigerian or Niger brownish patinated bronze or cobber bracelet, weighing ca. 840 grams! More West African pieces and some Northern African bracelets among which a particular nice brass armring with the decorated large finials of the Tuaregs, weighing ca. 475 grams...

African ibeji carved wooden figure, Yoruba people, Nigeria. With striated upswept coiffure and tatoo on the belly. Male figure with superb rich patina.


The Yoruba figures on the market are oftentimes not old. This is a very old figure, likely from the early 20th. century.

Size: c. 26 cm.- 10,2 inches.

Ex. Lau Sunde.

A fine set of the earliest types of bronze Manillas socalled Slavetrader bracelets, Africa, Nigeria, 16th.-18th. cent. AD.

These were made and used as currency well up in the 19th. century, but our selection are very old! These come with exceptionally fine jade like patinas and were wrongly sold as European bronzeage bracelets.

Size: Up to 8,2 cm. in diameter. Weight: 720 grams.

Ex. Old private collection, 1974-2015

An antique pair of Tuareg tent (stakes) made of a hand carved wood. Unique nomadic tribal carvings decorate the upper portion of each piece. Mounted on a removable custom fabricated iron base.

Age: Late 19th Century

Dimensions: (of largest) 52 1/2" High by 7" Wide by 7" Deep

Lovely intact ceramic bust, likely a memorial portrait (nsodie) of an Akan nobleman from the part of Africa which is today southern Ghana and southeastern Côte d'Ivoire. This is a very early type and quite attractive with it's diminutive arms.

Size: c. 10,5 cm. tall.

Condition: Intact with minor corrosion and patina.

Ex. Danish private Collection

Very rare and fine bronze figure of a woman holding her breasts. H. 14,5 cm. Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands.

Antique, 19th century North African, Morocco-Algeria, Islamic Maghrib, Kabyle, Kabylie, enamel silver, jeweled turban pin brooch, Sarpech -Aigrette (feather support for turban).

Details: This impressive Sarpech is of classical form, composed of several well-made separate elements of solid silver, soldered together, including a long stem with a flower head end...

A very unusual antique 19th-20th century African ceremonial dagger with a carved and dyed bone grip in the form of a human figure, has a hand forged flat, double-edged shaped rusted iron blade with a elaborate leaf shape scabbard made of two pieces of stiffened hide sown together with twisted twine and adorned on the center with carved and dyed bone tribal ancestor mask within an intricate pattern made of dyed Cowrie Shells stitched to the rawhide...

A rare antique, late 19th-early 20th century, African Tribal Ceremonial Axe-Hatchet used by shaman as the accessory for the Bwami secret society divination practices. The brown dyed bone shaft is finely carved with three tribal figures. The top figure depicts an African woman with large breast wearing the conical hat wrapped in twisted copper wire. The bottom figure depicting an African man with the Erect Phallus formed from the rear spike of the iron axe blade and wrapped in twisted copper wire...

A spectacular authentic, circa 1900 A.D. to mid-20th century, or older, African maiden spirit helmet mask "agbogho mmwo" from the Igbo people of Nigeria, used by the male Mmwo secret society. Agbogho mmwo helmet masks (also called agbogho monnwu, or ikorodo, meaning ‘maiden spirit mask’)...

Large Antique African Tribal round bowl, hand carved from one piece of wood, with integral suspension loop and decorated with geometric design.

CONDITION: Signs of usage and wear, the wood with fine old natural dark patina, old cracks and chips, part of the side broken off, small white points and blotches from the wall paint.

APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS:

Diameter: 42.5 cm (16.73 inches). Height: 8 cm (3.15 inches).

PROVENANCE: Old collection of tribal art Canada.

A Fine antique African Diviner Janus Slit Gong Drum (Mukoku- Ngoombu), Yaka, D.R. Congo/Angola late 19th or first half of the 20th century. Finely carved drum forming a hollowed cylindrical body with a slit at the front side, surmounted by a Janus head on a short neck with large, pointed nose, protruding oval eye. Two brass bels attached to the neck on the twisted fibre cord.

The wood with fine old natural glossy patina. Mounted on the custom-made square iron base...

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.

Unusual Baule mask with three hair knots, large scarifications around the eyes and on the cheeks. A pendant on the forehead. The Van Rijn archive mentions that , according to oral history’ this mask was collected ca 1900, so it would date from the 19th century. H. 32 cm. Ex French colonial collection, ex private German collection until 2021.

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

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.

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.

An exceptional example of the antique Ethiopian Coptic Christian processional cross of unusual form 17th -18th century Ethiopia, Solomonic Dynasty.

The cross is made of cast copper alloy (white bronze) and has been pierced and engraved in openwork with an intricate pattern of interwoven lines, topped with small crosses. Two circular decorations flank the bottom of the cross; this motif refers to the divine halo of Christ...

This is an authentic 19th-century Ethiopian Abyssinian Coptic Orthodox brass blessing cross comprised of three intricately cast and attached elements.

The cross is decorated with intricate geometric patterns arranged in a lattice design, resulting in a stunning visual effect...

A very unusual large and very early version of the currency bracelet, used also by slave traders in the in West Africa - these served as exchange currency.

A very ornate bracelet with miniature decoration around the three hemispheric profiles.

Size: 109 mm. wide and 59 mm. high. Weigh: 367 grams.

Condition: Good Very fine, small bumps, but intact with a lovely warm green, brownish red patina.

Ex. Old Danish Private Colection

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)

An adorable and substantial Kissi-Noboli figure, Sierra Leone / Liberia, early excarvated type, pre 19th. century AD.

The greyish brown steatite figure is depicting a squating older man holding his hands in front of his knees. Groteque facial features...

An exceptional pair of wooden twins, Nigeria, Yoruba, c...

A very early and rare pair of wooden twins, Nigeria, Yoruba, probably deep into the 19th. cent.

The fine set with blue pigments on their large headdresses, eyes with inlaid metal, tribal tatoos and addorned with jewelry. A very early pair with an exceptional patina and remnants of pigments on both headdresses and body.This pair was part of Lau Sundes personal collection, see below.

Size: 30-31 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice Very fine with a lovely patina and smoo...

Another lovely pair of wooden twins, Nigeria, Yoruba, c. 19th. cent.

The fine set of male and female with large headdresses, and exceptional facial features. Both adorned with jewelry.

A very early pair with an exceptional patina. This pair was part of Lau Sundes personal collection, see below.

Size: 27,5-28 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice Very fine with a fine patina and smooth wear from extensive worship and use, tiny chips and surface cracks, consiste...

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. A well-trimmed beard below the jaw and Aa particularly refined hairstyle on this figure, can be attribu...

An important high quality early wooden figure, Ivory Coast, Baulé, provenanced and from the 19th. century

The sculpture representing a seated woman, hands on her knees, seated on a chair, carved with incredible realism and details in the nude. Wood with fading colours and much brown-black patina. The sculpture presents the traditional baule keloids scars and a braided hairstyle, finely chiseled. The details are stunning on this lady, her painted eyes, her jewelry and her scarificati...

A rare painted early wooden figure, Ivory Coast, Baulé, from the famous Danish Artist and Sculptor, Robert Jacobsen private collection and from the 19th.- or very early 20th. century

The figure appears facing the front, symmetrical with her arms resting on her stomach, which was a sign of peace for the Baulé people. She is dressed in a loincloth painted in black, red and white.

An artful carving in a hard dark solid wood. Wonderful facial expression even for the elabor...

Fine early pair of wooden twins, male and female, Yoruba People, Oyo Region, Nigeria, 19th./ 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, dating back to the 19th.-early 20th. century.

The lovely set with large headdresses, and exceptional facial features and both richly adorned with jewelry. This pair of ibeji figures (ibeji means ‘born...

Superb pair of elaborate wooden twins, both females, Yoruba People, Eruwa city, Nigeria, 19th./ 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, dating back to the 19th.-early 20th. century.

The lovely set with fantastic openwork headdresses, with blue pigments and exceptional facial features and both richly adorned with jewelry. This pair of...

A very early pair of wooden twins, both males, Yoruba People, Nigeria, 19th. 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)

The lovely set with large headdresses are both richly adorned with jewelry and kauri shells. This pair of ibeji figures (ibeji means ‘born two’) stands with the...

Fine large and early pair of wooden twins, both females, Yoruba People, Oyo Region, Nigeria, late 19th./ early 20th. century. Mosho on an old note below the base, which is possible referring to the town of Moshi.

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

The lovely set with large headdresses, blue pigment, and ...

A pair of unresearched very early african ceramic sculptural art, probably Akan and Nigeria, pre 18th. century and one is probably ancient!

Sold as one lot.

Size: The head is 16,5 cm. incl. the nice base, the other is c. 14,5 cm. tall.

Provenance: Collection of Gunna Munkvad, Denmark, aquired from the 1950s-1980s.

Bakongo dance staff/rattle H. 32 cm, early 20th century Inlaid eyes. Some missing parts, see pictures. Rare and early object.