An excavated bronze bracelet with antropomorphic figures, decorated with bronze bells. H. 13,5 cm, diameter 9 cm. Condition: this is an archaeological artefact with expected damage to the bronze and a few misding bells. Provenance: collected in situ in the 1960’s by W. Häusler, Thurgau, Switzerland, Hammer Auktionen, Basel, Switzerland.These richly decorated bracelets belonged to the ceremonial outfits of rulers, priests and Oshugbo members in Ijebu...

Pottery head to commemorate a deceased person. These heads werd usually made by female members of the tribe. The heads werd place on shrines. H. 17 cm. Condition: old damage to the right eye and to the curls on the head. Ex UK private collection, collected in the 1940’s, ex Rob Temple, Gent, Belgium.

Pottery head to commemorate a deceased person. These heads werd usually made by female members of the tribe. The heads werd place on shrines. H. 16 cm. Please note the intricate hair curls and the inlaid metal eyes. Good condition. Ex UK private collection, collected in the 1940’s, ex Rob Temple, Gent, Belgium.

Pottery head to commemorate a deceased person. These heads werd usually made by female members of the tribe. The heads werd place on shrines. H. 22,5 cm. Condition: old damage on top of the head, minor chip to the lip. Ex UK private collection, collected in the 1940’s, ex Rob Temple, Gent, Belgium.

Pottery head to commemorate a deceased person. These heads werd usually made by female members of the tribe. The heads werd place on shrines. H. 18 cm. Condition: old damage to the hair and to the ornaments on the head. Ex UK private collection, collected in the 1940’s, ex Rob Temple, Gent, Belgium.

Pottery head to commemorate a deceased person. These heads werd usually made by female members of the tribe. The heads werd place on shrines. H. 20 cm. Condition: old damage to the left cheek and to the ornaments on the head. Ex UK private collection, collected in the 1940’s, ex Rob Temple, Gent, Belgium.

A fine procession or ritual battle axe, Africa, Songe Culture, 18th.-19th. century AD.

A very early axe, though most of these are early 2th. century, this is much older and dating 18th.-19th. century. Beautiful hammered copper handle and and a large iron axe-head, decorated with wrought irin and a small head on each side. Dotted decoration along the blade.

Size: ca. 39 cm. long shaft and a blade of ca. 20 cm.

Ex...

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 vintage carved wood ceremonial 'Crocodile' mask used by the Mano tribe in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Africa. 19th/20th Century. Size" 30 inches ht x 10 inches x 13 inches. Carved wood, adorned with hide, red fabric and cowrie shells.

Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and brought back by a British soldier. About 20 1/2" length, secured with a European mother of pearl shirt button. Four bands alternating blue and pink, separated by cobalt blue bands with a pink inner band, forming a thick heavy body. Light storage soiling but undamaged and complete.

Livingstone period and area, South Sudan. 27" length, faceted hardwood with woven sinew encased expanded butt.Old cord, probably for display suspension. Undamaged and fine age patina throughout. Probably collected in the Anglo-Sudanese War of the 1880s which resulted in the defeat of the Mad Mahdi and the Whirling Dervish.

Second half of the 19th century, period of the Arab slave trade centered in Zanzibar under to control of Tipu Tib. Chip carved wood hilt and scabbard. 6” offset section d.e. blade with orange inked Webster Collection inventory number. The scabbard with old label (French?) Bar Zambre Senna. Another early label on the scabbard tip, partially lost reads Chiefs/carry/handle/Africa. Both labels with the Webster Collection number superimposed. Ex: Webster, Sterns, Detroit Institute of Arts...

Mahdist period C.1885. Complete with its scabbard and tooled leather belt. Undoubtedly collected by a British soldier as they regarded the Hadendoa as the fiercest of the Dervish followers of the Mad Mahdi. 7 7/8" curved d.e. blade hammer finished an textured. Bright original finish. Intricately carved X form grip, excellent. The broad tooled belt with separate tongue and iron buckle. Shows surface encrustation and light staining from use. Preserved exactly as collected 120 years ago.

Wood, carved in approximate imitation of a British cane, with the grip swelled to serve as a club. Tapered to the tip which is worn from use as a cane and provided with a tubular hide (typical Zulu fashion) grip above. The top carved with a delicate crest and showing some abrasions from use. Dating to the Zulu Wars of 1879 and the property of an induna serving a chief loyal to the British as many were. 37 1/2" length, well worn condition as expected. Unique.

Ashanti gold weights from the Sir Cecil Armitage Collection. Dating to the second half of the 19th century to early 20th, geometric gold weights were used to weigh gold dust which was the currency of the Ashanti, used largely for the purchase of slaves...

Slave trade period. Southwest Sahara, Sara people. See Westerdijk group SP II #7. Finely designed with its weight invested in the blade by dispensing with grip expansion or wrap. 21 ½” length, straight measure. Forge finished. The spine between the projections chiseled with three talismanic figures. Additional figure or cipher to the enclosed projection. Original finish throughout. The Sara were predated on by the slave trade, particularly the Fulani, as well as Arab traders...

19th century. 65 7/8” length. Large raised medial leaf shaped head and iron base piece. The haft with copper trade wrap. Well used but sound and complete with age encrustation. The Azande were fully involved in the slave trade at the time. Slavery and ivory were the two primary occupations. Slaves were sold to ready buyers on the East coast and well as domestically for labor and human consumption (cannibalism).

2 3/4" width. Uniform stable green patina from shipwreck recovery. Produced in Birmingham, England 1700-1820 in imitation of the West African originals. When first introduced, a single bracelet was traded for one slave.