Very old and nicely carved black mask, of typical conical coiffe and slightly smiling feminine face. Wood, fine patina. Africa, Gabon, Punu Peoples, Tsangui sub-group. Height: 13 1/4" (34 cm). Old accident on left side of coiffe, erosion due to age, otherwise very good condition. Ex. old French collection.

Made using hid with shell decoration this girls pubic protector would have been worn by a young girl of the African pygmy Kalahari Bushman tribe...an interesting ethnographic artifact and can easily be framed for display

Exceptional pair of African wood carvings from the Nyamwezi tribes of Central Tanzania, the larger measuring 40 1/2" high, including stand, which is 6" x 6" square and about 1 1/2" high.. Both are carved of heavy dense wood, and the forms slightly vary due to the natural shape of the tree trunk or branch from which they were carved. They have inset white bead eyes, which is typical, especially in early figures. The elongated forms are striking, and they both have slightly bent knees, also typ...

Very large doll made by a known carver. H. 40,5 cm. Second quarter of the 20th century. Condition: both arms reattached. Lovely honey brown patina. The style of this Akuaba with its unusual coiffure is described in the book ‘Akua’ba Asante Wednesday Child’ by Ron van Doorn and Herbert M. Cole. Provenance: Robert van der Heijden, Amsterdam. (Vetter at Parcours des Mondes, Paris).

A weaving pulley ending in an expressive head with some scarifying. Carved from hardwood with dark patina, the reel is fixed with an iron wire. Collected by the Swiss ethnologist Charlotte von Graffenried, author of the book "Akan Goldweights". Condition: traces of usage, some wear, the face with fine cracks. Dimension: c. 19.1 cm high x 6.8 cm wide.

From our African Collection: A Nomoli Figure from Sierra Leone made from Stone. 9" across at base, 24" h. Nomoli figurines are among the earliest works of art from Sierra Leone. The Nomoli figurines and similar stone sculptures are the only known remains of an empire that existed hundreds of years ago in what is Sierra Leone and Liberia today. Nomoli figurines are often associated with the Mende people as they are often buried on Mende land...

Superb old Benin bronze sculpture of a fish standing on 4 legs. This piece was made using the lost wax process. A must for anyone's collection, this fish has a wonderful patina and would also make a very interesting accent piece to any home decor. Measures 7" long, 4" high.

A small oil on Masonite painting of giraffes silhouetted by an African sunset, 10" by 8", unframed, signed at lower right "B.C. Syrett 1968". I do not see information on the artist, who was obviously talented. The painting could use a cleaning to remove soiled varnish, light scuffs and some stray black surface marks in the sky.

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

Helmet mask of Janus shape, showing two busts surmounted by fierce looking faces, each one very different from the other one. The mask is made of wood covered with animal skin, with a rattan base allowing fixation to the top of the dancer's head. Beautiful dark brown glossy patina. Africa, Nigeria, Ekoi ethnic group. Height: 21 cm. Very good condition. Provenance: old European collection.

The gourd container with a hardwood stopper with a head. H. 17 cm. Mid 20th century.

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.

Igbomina region, Omu Aran village. Female figure with scarifications and two bronze bracelets. Early 20th century. Provenance: Ursula Voorhuis, The Netherlands. She owns one of the largest Yoruba collections in the world.

Lovely Losso ancestor figure with an amazing patina. There is a leather band around one of the legs. H. 24,5 cm. Ex. Alain Dufour, Paris.

Large door lock, representing a standing female. The face expressing a great severity, is framed by a beautiful crenellated hair. Hardwood. Old patina of use. From Bambara tribes Mali

From our African Collection: A Dogon Granary Door from the 1960s. 18 x 24" h. The Dogon are among African cultures that have remained closest to their ancestral traditions.One such tradition is building granaries and houses for grain storage. Doors of these granaries are often adorned with impressive carvings of animals or people which serve as invocations of deities or spirits, or as symbols of status...

A serene mask from the first half of the 20th century. H. 23 cm, L. 26 cm. Light traces of pigment. Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands. Guy van Rijn archive: ao-0110538-001.

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.