African Arts Gallery

African sculpture, an everyday object aimed at enhancing the status of its user, an expression of African art, this headrest monoxyle or even "dream support" has a braided strap. It constitutes, for the tribes of Kenya and Uganda, a pillow to preserve, during sleep, the elaborate headdresses. It could also be used as a stool. Among the Turkana, they are offered to the future wife as a wedding vow, and returned to the man in case of refusal. Among the Pokot established in the region from Lake Turkana to Lake Baringo, it is the present which marks the ceremonies of the passage to adulthood or even a reward for a victory during a conflict.
Headrests frequently take the stylized form of an animal, cattle being of utmost importance to the pastoralist tribes of East Africa. Glossy brown ...

Headrest with female caryatid motif of Luba or Zela origin. The posture of the character has, among the Lubas, a particular symbolism, the genitals being in contact with the earth. Sculpture from the Luba and related groups depicts the woman and her connection to royalty and the bavidye spirits. Orange-brown patina.
Formerly subject to the Luba, then to the Lundas, the Zela, Muzela, or Wazela, have adopted a large part of their customs and traditions. Established between the Luvua River and Lake Kisalé, they are today organized into four chiefdoms under the supervision of leaders of Luba origin. They venerate a primordial couple frequently represented in statuary, mythical ancestors, and dedicate offerings to the spirits of nature.

A piece of furniture used to preserve hairstyles during sleep, it comes in a variety of shapes. This Tonga type specimen is identified by its stylized, arched feet, evoking human legs. The rectangular top, with a gently curved center, is encrusted with decorative motifs composed of nails. Small accidents, cracks. Shiny mahogany patina.

A caryatid figure supports the narrow top of this neckrest. The subject wears a songye kikashi mask, still used today. This type of mask is worn during initiations with a long costume and a beard made of natural fibers. Used as a pillow to preserve the user's hair arrangements, the African neckrest forms a tribal object decorated with different iconographies which embody the associated spiritual forces.

The Songye came from the Shaba region in the DRC and settled between the Lualaba River and the Sankuru River in the middle of the savannah and forests. They are governed by the yakitengé and by local chiefs. The Bwadi secret society, however, counteracts their power. Their masculine masks, with occult powers, were exhibited during punitive and disciplinary expeditions. Their ...

This backrest offering numerous patterns represents an ancestor of the clan. The flared hairstyle, often topped with a horn, is characteristic of the hairstyles acquired by the Totshi chiefs belonging to the ikoho association and evokes particular proverbs. It symbolizes respect, intelligence and maturity. Numerous scarifications are traced all over the body. Glossy brown patina. Abrasions from use, cracks from desiccation.
A people from Central Africa established in Kasai, neighboring the Kuba, the Ndengese form one of the clans descended from a common Mongo ancestor, some of them being originally of the Upper Nile. The Nkutschu are related to the Ndengese. The latter produced statues with absent or truncated lower limbs, covered with graphic symbols, symbolizing the prestige of ...

Among the elements of traditional African furniture, this type of African neckrest has a smooth and lustrous mahogany-colored patina. Its abstract design is inspired by the human body. Desiccation cracks (plateau).
Having been part of the Tio kingdom like the Tékés during the 15th century, the Mfinu became autonomous in the 19th century, grouped into villages led by the "mbé". Their sculptures are of the same type as those of the Tékés, while differing somewhat. Their neck rests, renowned for their geometric structure, were part of the prestige emblems of chiefs, along with ceremonial axes and fly swatters.

Within the figurative sculpture of the Kuba, the prestigious objects held by members of the Kuba royal family and peripheral groups, Bushoong and Dengese, are always decorated with engraved patterns, parallel lines , criss-cross, and checkered. The same geometric patterns also adorn the diviner's accessories such as this divination instrument accompanied by its pusher. These tools, used to solve various problems, take up animal motifs associated with ngesh (spirits of nature) but also human motifs referring to ancestors and masks. Satin nuanced brown patina.
The Kuba kingdom or "lightning people" was founded in the 16th century by the main tribe Bushoong which is still ruled today by a king, and whose capital was Nshyeeng or Mushenge. The Lele are established in the west of ...

African tribal sculpture, an element of African furniture that must preserve the voluminous chokwe headdresses, it stands out thanks to its criss-cross top embellished with metal inlays. Patina rubbed with kaolin. Desication crack.
Peacefully settled in eastern Angola until the 16th century, the Chokwé were then subjected to the Lunda empire from which they inherited a new hierarchical system and the sacredness of power. Nevertheless, the Chokwé never fully adopted these new social and political contributions. Three centuries later, they ended up seizing the capital of the Lunda weakened by internal conflicts, thus contributing to the dismantling of the kingdom. The Chokwé did not have centralized power but large chiefdoms. They were the ones who attracted artists ...

Varied compositions for these African headrests. African dugout neckrest, this "dream support", constitutes, for the tribes of Africa, a pillow to preserve, during sleep, the elaborate headdresses. It could also be used as a stool. Equipped with a support divided into two feet (symbolizing for some elephant feet), its narrow top is extended laterally with tabs. Headrests frequently take the stylized form of an animal, cattle being of utmost importance to the pastoralist tribes of East Africa. Among the Turkana, they are offered to the future wife as a wedding vow, and returned to the man in case of refusal. Among the Pokot established in the region from Lake Turkana to Lake Baringo, it is the present which marks the ceremonies of the passage to adulthood or even a reward for a victory ...

The prestige of African headrests. African dugout neckrest, this "dream support", constitutes, for the tribes of Africa, a pillow to preserve, during sleep, the elaborate headdresses. It could also be used as a stool. With two feet that would symbolize elephant feet, it has a narrow curved top. Headrests frequently take the stylized form of an animal, cattle being of utmost importance to the pastoralist tribes of East Africa. Among the Turkana, they are offered to the future wife as a wedding vow, and returned to the man in case of refusal. Among the Pokot established in the region from Lake Turkana to Lake Baringo, it is the present which marks the ceremonies of the passage to adulthood or even a reward for a victory during a conflict.
Smooth mahogany brown patina.

Neck rest with rectangular base and columns. The central support, with jambs, is decorated with linear motifs arranged in rhombuses. Dark brown velvety patina, cracks. In the southern coastal region of Tanzania, around Dar-es-Salam, a relatively homogeneous group has produced the bulk of artistic output. It includes the Swahili, Kaguru, Doé, Kwéré, Luguru, Zaramo, Kami. The second region is formed by a territory covering the south of Tanzania to Mozambique, where some Makonde and Yao, Ngindo, Mwéra, and Makua live. In northeastern Tanzania, the Chaga, Paré, Chamba, Zigua, Maasai, Iraqw, Gogo, and Héhé have an artistic production with similarities to Malagasy and Batak art, which could be explained by trade by sea. The Luo, Kuria, Haya and Ziba, the Kéréwé, Karagwé, Sukuma and Nyamézi ...

The Luba are renowned for their statuary and in particular their neckrests and stools made up of a caryatid figure. The figures adorning this neckrest to preserve the complex headdress of its owner refer to Luba royalty and tutelary spirits. But neckrests were also used to support the heads of the deceased, and sometimes, according to Albert Maesen, buried in their place. Brown satin patina, abrasions.
The Luba (Baluba in Chiluba) are a people of Central Africa. Their cradle is Katanga, more precisely the region of the Lubu River, hence the name (Baluba, which means “the Lubas”). They were born from a secession of the Songhoy ethnic group, under the leadership of Ilunga Kalala who killed the old king Kongolo who has since been revered in the form of a python. In the 16th century ...

The Luba are renowned for their statuary and in particular their neck rests and stools consisting of a caryatid figure and sometimes an animal motif, the antelope in this case.
In this case it is a female figure, incarnation of royalty and the spirit of the ancestors, riding the animal. The antelope horns were also used, loaded with magical ingredients, in therapeutic rites.
The horn rests were also used to support the heads of the deceased, and sometimes, according to Albert Maesen, buried in their place. Matt patina.
The Luba (Baluba in Tchiluba) are a people of Central Africa. Their cradle is Katanga, more precisely the region of the Lubu river, hence the name (Baluba, which means "the Lubas"). They were born from a secession of the Songhoy ethnic group, ...

The clean lines of this Egyptian New Kingdom type headrest reveal a black patina. Established on a wide base, the neckrest rises from a faceted foot to curve deeply. Black patina, small accidents.

This type of African headrest decorated with a carved janiform motif, was the attribute of lineage heads. Matte orange-brown patina, cracks.
Hierarchical and authoritarian, composed of formidable warriors, Yaka society was governed by lineage leaders with the right of life and death over their subjects. Hunting and the prestige that results from it are an opportunity today for the Yaka to invoke their ancestors and to use rituals using charms linked to the “khosi” institution. The initiation society for young people is the n-khanda, which is found among the eastern Kongo (Chokwe, Luba, etc.), and which uses various charms and masks with the aim of to ensure a vigorous lineage. Devoting a special cult to twins, the Bayaka (Sing. Yaka) also use janiform statues called yikubu ...

The Luba are renowned for their statuary and in particular their neckrests and stools made up of a caryatid figure or couple embodying spirits. Neckrests were also used to support the heads of the deceased, and sometimes, according to Albert Maesen, buried in their place. Turning their backs, the figures of spouses are squatting, their heads supporting the tray. Brown abraded, satin patina. Crack at the top.
The Luba (Baluba in Chiluba) are a people of Central Africa. Their cradle is Katanga, more precisely the region of the Lubu River, hence the name (Baluba “the Lubas”). In the 16th century they created a state, organized as a decentralized chiefdom, which stretched from the Kasai River to Lake Tanganyika. The chiefdoms cover a small territory with no real border which includes ...

African tribal sculpture, a prestigious everyday element which, in addition to its use in a ritual context, must preserve the voluminous headdresses of its owners. This neck support stands out thanks to the kneeling caryatid couple, in reference to the lineage ancestors. The Chokwe and their neighbors in Angola also produced various seats and headrests with zoomorphic designs for dignitaries. Smooth brown patina, ocher inlays.

Peacefully settled in eastern Angola until the 16th century, the Chokwé were then subject to the Lunda empire from which they inherited a new hierarchical system and the sacredness of power. However, the Chokwé never fully adopted these new social and political contributions. Three centuries later, they ended up seizing the capital of the Lunda, ...

Headrest whose motif depicts a couple associated with the primordial ancestors. The posture, genitals in contact with the ground, would offer a precise symbolism for the Lubas. Sculpture from Luba and related groups frequently depicts women and their connection to royalty and bavidye spirits. Brown satin patina, cracks.
Formerly subject to the Luba, then to the Lundas, the Zela, Muzela, or Wazela, have adopted a large part of their customs and traditions. Established between the Luvua River and Lake Kisalé, they are today organized into four chiefdoms under the supervision of leaders of Luba origin. They venerate a primordial couple frequently represented in statuary, mythical ancestors, and dedicate offerings to the spirits of nature.

"Pillow" Gurage, massive and stable, adorned with ridged walls, which was used inside dwellings but which was also carried in ceremonies. Among the elements of traditional African furniture, this type of neckrest has a smooth and shiny patina. More than eighty ethnic groups in Ethiopia have produced different headrests for individual use called yagerteras, or “my country pillows” or “Boraati” (“tomorrow you”).
Small chips, desiccation crack.
The objects were originally intended to protect the elaborate hairstyles of their owner (male or female) during the night. But among the Turkana, for example, it is the emblem of the groom's tenderness for his bride, a pledge of union in the same way as an engagement ring.

A figure of a kneeling couple supports the tray of this piece of mangbetu furniture. The body tracings refer to the ceremonial paintings of the clan. The high hairstyle is characteristic of the Mangbetu aristocracy: from an early age, children had their skulls compressed by means of raffia ties. Later, the Mangbetu knitted their hair on strands of wicker and applied a band on the forehead to extract the hair and produce this particular headdress that accentuates the elongation of the head. aesthetic refinement of the Mangbetu, and the emphasis placed on fertility . The elders name beli these figures of ancestors stored out of sight and comparable to those belonging to their secret society nebeli . Established in the forest in northeastern Zaire, the Mangbetu kingdom expressed ...

The Luba are renowned for their statuary and in particular their neckrests and stools made up of a caryatid figure. The figures adorning this neckrest to preserve the complex headdress of its owner refer to Luba royalty and tutelary spirits. But neckrests were also used to support the heads of the deceased, and sometimes, according to Albert Maesen, buried in their place. Nuanced brown patina, abrasions and slight chips.
The Luba (Baluba in Chiluba) are a people of Central Africa. Their cradle is Katanga, more precisely the region of the Lubu River, hence the name (Baluba, which means “the Lubas”). They were born from a secession of the Songhoy ethnic group, under the leadership of Ilunga Kalala who killed the old king Kongolo who has since been revered in the form of a python. In ...