Mid 20th century. Bronze cm. 30,0 high x cm. 12,7 width (11.81" x 5.00"). gr. 642,3 (22.66 oz.). Kpelie masks are usually oval in shape with arched crescent shaped eyebrows over narrow slit eyes. The small mouth opens below a slender nose. Scarification marks add to presentation of what is considered beautiful to...
Bronze. The female figure is cm. 35,0 high; the male figure is cm. 31,7 high. Grams 1348,0. Headed by the Oluwo (chief priest), the Yoruba Ogboni (meaning 'cult of old age') is a society of respected elderly men and women responsible for the management and wellbeing of their community through...
Wood, metal, fur, fiber, hair, brass bells, pigment. This mask, which appears to represent a bush spirit, combines many diverse materials to create an image of power. Multiple eyes, two protruding winglike ears, large teeth, and other power symbols such as 5 heavy bells and a beard of authentic animal...
20th century. Carved wood, multiple layers of multi-colored trade glass beads, leather amulets, cowrie shells. Cm. 22,5 high (8.86"); grams 552,8 (19.5 oz.). In Cameroon, when a young Fali man becomes betrothed, he makes a doll (ham pilu) fro m wood and decorates it with hair, beads, and other small amulets....
Bronze. Cm. 6,0 high x 5,5 width (2.36″ x 2.17″); Gr. 66,1 (2.33 oz.). These figures are believed to cure the madness. The word “Putchu” means horse and “Guinadji” means demon in the Kotoko language. The “Putchu Guinadji” are the horse and the rider who fight the demons attacking the mad...
Wood cm. 54 high; weight 2,1 kg. Motherhood plays an important role in all societies, but in African culture, a woman is often evaluated by the number of children she produces: in traditional West African societies, the woman has the main purpose of fathering and raising children. Understanding the importance...
Wood, paint. Cm. 68,5 high x cm 27,0 width x cm. 34,0 depth. Kg 6,4. The kneeling pose of this figure is known as ikunle, and it ‘signifies respect, courtesy and supplication’ amongst the Yoruba. The orant presenting an offering to one of the pantheon of Yoruba deities (Orisha) is...
Wood. Cm. 96 width x cm. 20 high x cm. 19 depth. Kg. 8,0. "Zoomorphic helmet masks like the one seen here are worn by members of the all-male Senufo association known as Poro, during funerals of important elders and other ceremonies. These prestigious and powerful masks are visual statements...
Bronze cm. 25,0 high x cm. 16,0 width. gr. 782,0. The Senufo people are an ethnolinguistic group of West Africa. They consist of several subgroups that live in a region that crosses the northern Ivory Coast, southeastern Mali and western Burkina Faso. They are predominantly animists, with some who are Muslims....
Wood, paint and glass beads. Cm. 32,0 high x cm. 10 width. Grams 757,2. Ashanti, also known as Asante, are part of the Akan ethnic group and are native to the Ashanti Region of modern-day Ghana. The wealthy, gold-rich Asante people developed the large and influential Asante Empire, along the Lake...
