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We offer you a large selection of unique pieces of African art. Coming from private collections or purchased directly “in situ”, these works are the subject of a special study to determine their provenance as well as their conditions of acquisition. We make it a point of honor to offer our customers quality works of African art, old or contemporary, acquired within the framework of an ethical market. It is the history of these pieces that we invite you to discover through our gallery and websites.

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Yoruba Statuette
African art > Bronze rider, wooden rider, dogon, yoruba > Yoruba Statuette

The figures on mounts, intended for Yoruba altars, represented a deified ancestor or one of the multiple orisa gods, comparable to Christian saints, belonging to the Yoruba pantheon. The equine, rare in the region, constituted an attribute of prestige which was reserved for the nobility and sovereigns. Satin patina. Cracks (base).
The Yoruba, more than 20 million, occupy southwest Nigeria and the central and southeastern region of Benin under the name of Nago. They are patrilineal, practice excision and circumcision. The kingdoms of Oyo and Ijebu were born following the disappearance of the Ifé civilization and are still the basis of the political structure of the Yoruba . The Oyo created two cults centered on the Egungun and Sango societies, still active, which worship their gods, ...


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140.00

Dogon Rider
African art > Bronze rider, wooden rider, dogon, yoruba > Dogon Rider

African sculpture of Dogon inspiration depicting a man riding his mount. Thick grainy patina, gaps and erosions.
The frequent representations of riders among the Dogon of Mali refer to their cosmogony and their complex religious myths. Indeed, one of the Nommos, ancestors of men, resurrected by the creator god Amma, descended to earth carried by an ark transformed into a horse. In addition, the highest authority of the Dogon people, the religious leader named Hogon, paraded on his mount during his enthronement because according to custom he was not to set foot on the ground. In the region of the cliffs of Sangha, inaccessible on horseback, the priests wore it, while neighing in reference to the mythical ancestor Nommo.


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140.00

Pende Mask
African art > African mask, tribal art, primitive art > Pende Mask

Collection of BelgianAfrican art, the name will be communicated to the buyer.
This African initiation mask, Mbuya, comes from the Pende of the West, where the Yaka influence is notable through the slightly upturned nose, and the line of the eyebrows recalls the features of the neighboring Chokwe. This mask symbolizes the masculine and feminine qualities of the leader. The Western Pende are established on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern Pende reside on the banks of the Kasai downstream of Tshikapa. Their tribal sculpture is marked by the influence of neighboring ethnic groups such as Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu.
Within this cultural diversity, the Mbuya masks, realistic and produced every ten years, have a festive function. They embody different ...


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175.00

Chokwe Statuette
African art > African statues : tribal fetish, maternity > Chokwe Statuette

African statuette depicting a founding ancestor and mythical hero, Chibinda Ilunga, wearing the chipangula, an attribute of chiefs. The chiefs had a major function in the propitiation rites intended for hunting and the fertility of women.

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. 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. It was they who attracted artists wishing to put their know-how at the exclusive service of the court. The artists created so many ...


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190.00

Chokwe statuette
African art > African statues : tribal fetish, maternity > Chokwe statuette

Ex-Belgian collection of African art African statuette associated with the ancestor and mythical hero, founder of the ethnic group, Chibinda Ilunga. The head, with oversized palms and feet, has a noble headdress with curved side wings (cipenya-mutwe), wicker frame covered with fabric, brass, leather, and pearls. The chief had taught his people the art of hunting.
Brilliant nuanced brown patina, erosions and desiccation cracks.
The Tschokwe, of Bantu culture, had established themselves in eastern Angola, but also in the Congo and Zambia. Following different alliances, they mingled with the Lunda who taught them hunting. Their social organization also affected Tschokwe society. The Tschokwe, however, ended up dominating the Lunda, whose kingdom was dismantled at the end of ...


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190.00

Statuette Chokwe
African art > African statues : tribal fetish, maternity > Statuette Chokwe

This statuette, symbol of power, would feature the mythical ancestor founder of the ethnic group, Chibinda Ilunga wearing his impressive adornment. This type of figure, represented without the hunter's accessories, is called mwanangana (chief statue). Easily recognizable by this ample headdress with curved side fins (cipenya-mutwe), he had taught his people the art of hunting. Skate rather clear, dull, abraded. Slight cracks.
Paisiblely 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 sanctity of power. Nevertheless, the Chokwé never fully embraced these new social and political contributions. Three centuries later, they eventually seized the capital of the Lunda, ...


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190.00

Lwalu Mask
African art > African mask, tribal art, primitive art > Lwalu Mask

African masks Lwalwa, Lwalu.
It is near the Kasai River that the Lwalwa live, between Angola and Zaire. Historically having a matrilineal society, the Lwalwa, after being influenced luba and songye, adopted a patrilineal system within their rudimentary political and social organization. The male mask nkaki, nkaaki, carved from wood mulela, is one of four types of masks produced by the privileged caste formed by their sculptors. These craftsmen, according to their merits, can become conductors and organize dances, including the balango, during which acrobatics are performed by young dancers. These masks are then displayed, or worn during initiation ceremonies, or to soothe the spirits after an unsuccessful hunt.
A conical hairstyle painted with geometric patterns overcomes a ...


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170.00

Nkishi Fetish
African art > The fetish, this emblematic object of primitive art > Nkishi Fetish

The result of cooperation between the nganga, the sculptor and the client, this African statuette songye was loaded with bishimba elements and accessories intended to reinforce its action. Brown patina, cracks and losses.
The fetish Songye, protective sculpture Nkisi, nkishi (pl. mankishi), plays the role of mediator between gods and men. The large specimens are the collective property of an entire village, the smaller figures belong to an individual or a family. In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle in Kasai, Katanga and South Kivu. Their history is inseparable from that of the Luba, to whom they are related through common ancestors.


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180.00

Songye fetish
African art > The fetish, this emblematic object of primitive art > Songye fetish

British Traditional African Art Collection.
Among the wide range of Songye sculptures, details distinguish this Songye statuette such as the horn inserted into the head at the tip, and the tiny metal crown at the top. The magic power of the bankishi, (sing. Nkishi) is supposed to be reinforced thanks to the addition of accessories, talismans, metallic elements, seeds, shells. The abdominal cavity is filled with a magical charge that can be made up of therapeutic ingredients. Glossy patina, desication cracks.
In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the left bank of the Lualaba. Their society is organized in a patriarchal way. Their history is inseparable from that of the Luba to which they are related through common ancestors.
Very ...


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180.00

Songye Fetish
African art > The fetish, this emblematic object of primitive art > Songye Fetish

Borrowing the traditional posture of Songye fetishes, this Nkishi statuette however differs in its morphology. The “bishimba” charge would be housed at the top. Glossy patina. Desiccation cracks, gaps.
The Songye fetish, magical sculpture Nkisi , nkishi (pl. mankishi), plays among the Songye the role of mediator between gods and men. The large examples are the collective property of an entire village, the smaller figures belonging to an individual or a family. In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle in Kasai, Katanga and South Kivu. Their society is organized in a patriarchal way. Their history is inseparable from that of the Luba to whom they are related through common ancestors. Very present in their society, divination made it possible to ...


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180.00

Songye  fetish
African art > The fetish, this emblematic object of primitive art > Songye fetish

Ex-French collection of African art Deprived of the summit horn, this African statuette Nkisi, nkishi (pl. mankishi ) offers a face with the features of traditional bifwebe masks. Satin patina. Erosions.
The Nkisi plays the role of mediator between gods and men. Large examples are the collective property of an entire village, the most modest belong to an individual or a family. In the 16th century, the Songyes migrated from the Shaba region to settle on the left bank of the Lualaba. Their society is organized in a patriarchal manner. Their history is inseparable from that of the Luba to whom they are related through common ancestors.
Very present in their society, divination made it possible to discover sorcerers and to shed light on the causes of the misfortunes that struck ...


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180.00

Hemba mask
African art > African mask, tribal art, primitive art > Hemba mask

African Hemba mask split with a wide grin, referring to a primate. Brown patina, residual kaolin encrustations.
Height on base: 24 cm. Among the types of Hemba masks identified, an anthropomorphic type is reminiscent of statuary, while those such as our example depicting a monkey, the soko mutu, probably belonged, according to J.Kerchache, to the Bugabo and Bambudye secret societies. Its function remains unknown. The smallest specimens (about twenty centimeters) would have been carried in the hand during rites intended for the protection of the home and for fertility. Besides the janiform kabeja statuettes, the statues of male ancestors, guarded by the hereditary chief of each clan, the fumu mwalo, are called songiti. It was during the 18th century that the Hemba settled on the ...


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180.00

Lulua figure
African art > African statues : tribal fetish, maternity > Lulua figure

De verschillende soorten Afrikaanse beelden Luluwa, Lulua of Béna Lulua, met meerdere scarificaties, verheerlijken lokale leiders, moederschap, vruchtbaarheid en de vrouwelijke figuur. Dit Afrikaanse moederschap wordt in verband gebracht met de Buanga bua cibola-cultus en zou volgens de Lulua kinderen en zwangere vrouwen beschermen. Het personage benadrukt een prominente buik, het centrum van het lichaam en "object van alle zorg" (De kracht van het heilige, M.Faïk-Nzuji) Grijsbruin patina.
Het is in het zuiden van de Democratische Republiek Congo dat de Lulua, of Béna Lulua, uit West-Afrika zich vestigden. . Hun sociale structuur, gebaseerd op kaste, is vergelijkbaar met die van de Luba. Ze produceerden weinig maskers, maar meestal beeldjes van voorouders die de ideale ...


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190.00

Lulua Maternity
African art > Maternity, statues, bronze, wood > Lulua Maternity

Scarifications abound on the body and the face of this naturalist African statue whose child is carried on the hip. These "maternities" and statuettes were supposed to protect the child and his mother. Grainy matte patina.
The different types of Luluwa, Lulua, or even Béna Lulua statues, with multiple scarifications, glorify local chiefs, motherhood, fertility and the female figure. This sculptural art was subject to the influences of neighboring ethnic groups (Chokwe, Luba, Kuba, ...)
It is in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo that the Lulua, or Béna Lulua, settled from West Africa. Their social structure, based on caste, is similar to that of the Luba. They produced few masks, but mostly statues of ancestors representing the ideal warrior, mulalenga wa nkashaama, ...


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140.00

Luluwa Statuette
African art > African statues : tribal fetish, maternity > Luluwa Statuette

Among the Luluwa, Lulua, or even Béna Lulua, various types of African statues with multiple scarifications glorify local chiefs, motherhood, fertility and the female figure. This African sculpture depends on the Buanga bua cibola cult of the Lulua in order to protect children and the pregnant woman. The subject has an umbilical hernia, the abdomen being the center of the body and "object of all solicitude" (The power of the sacred, M. Faïk-Nzuji ) Light brown patina.
Desication cracks and erosions.
It is in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo that the Lulua, or Béna Lulua, from West Africa settled. . Their social structure, based on caste, is similar to that of the Luba. They produced few masks, but mostly statuettes of ancestors representing the ideal warrior, ...


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180.00

Bwa / Bobo Mask
African art > African mask, tribal art, primitive art > Bwa / Bobo Mask

Ex-Swiss African art collection.
African masks of bobo, Bwa, Kurumba and Mossi, living in Burkina Faso, frequently take over and combine stylized elements borrowed from humans, animals or insects. It is the spirits of nature that are supposed to determine the well-being and prosperity of an individual, and adversity will be seen as the result of neglect scars of collective rites. It is therefore during various celebrations that the mask will personify a spirit of nature or that of an ancestor in order to influence the daily life of the members of the ethnic group. They appear to honor the deceased during funeral rites, and to escort souls to the realm of the dead. They also occur during agricultural festivals in order to ensure the progression of the seasons, so during the ...


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250.00

Statue Bambara
African art > African statues : tribal fetish, maternity > Statue Bambara

Embodying a Bambara servant, this sculpture adopts classic criteria and wears the traditional Bambara hairstyle. The protruding chest, on a plateau, accentuates the haughty bearing of the character. Often accompanied by a " guandoudou ", figure of a queen, this type of sculpture was surrounded by figures of servants named guannyeyi during the rites of the Guan< society. /b> .
Abraded matte patina, breaks at mat height. Cracks.

The Bambara are found in central and southern Mali. This name means "unbeliever" and was given to them by Muslims. They belong to the large Mande group, like the Soninke and the Malinke. They believe in the existence of a creator god generically called Ngala, who has 266 sacred attributes. One, for each day of the 9 lunar months that lasts ...


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380.00

Galoa Mask
African art > African mask, tribal art, primitive art > Galoa Mask

Types of masks Okukwe, Okuyi, Galoa.
The Galoa (or Galwa) live downstream from Lambaréné on the Ogooué River, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. They are called "people of the lake". They produced masks named Okouyi, Okukwé, used by the Okukwé society of a judicial nature, in order to reveal witchcraft and its authors through divination. Several neighboring ethnic groups, including the Adouma and the Kota, use flat areas of contrasting colors in Gabon, including kaolin supposed to have apotropaic properties.
The groups of Gabon practice the worship of the bwiti, worship of the ancestors, and their relics are surmounted by a sculpture acting as a watchman. The Tsogho also produced a variety of masks comparable to those of their neighbors in the Ogooué basin. Height with raffia: ...


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180.00

Fang Statue
African art > African statues : tribal fetish, maternity > Fang Statue

Reliquary guardians in the African tribal art of Gabon.
This brilliantly stylized male figure embodies the spirit of an ancestor. This tribal sculpture, kept by the esa, the oldest man in the family, was intended for a reliquary in which the bones of the ancestors were kept. Satin black patina. Erosions and cracks concentrated on the cap.
The relics of the most remarkable ancestors were kept in cylindrical bark boxes near the bed of the lineage chief, initiate of the Byéri family cult. Surmounted by a human effigy which affirmed their identity, they contributed to the protection of their descendants thanks to regular sacrifices. The initiation rites, forbidden to women and children, took place under the influence of a hallucinogenic substance, Alan, borrowed from the ...


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340.00

Wé Mask
African art > African mask, tribal art, primitive art > Wé Mask

The Wé sculpt African masks that are the result of interlocking stylistic forms. The Dan , in the north, and the Wé in the south (group Krou including the Guéré , the Wobé of the northeast and the Wé of Liberia called Kran or Khran), made use of frequent borrowings due to their proximity. The elements of the bush, in this case references to the pachyderm, are associated with human traits marking the duality of the divine. Before the 1960s, the masks, whose elaboration was inspired by the visits of the spirits during dreams, accompanied most activities such as war, dancing, singing, hunting. Each of these masks had a name associated with its function. It remained the property of the dancer's lineage. This mask would embody a formidable spirit, a supernatural power, that of the ...


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280.00

Ewe dolls
African art > African Dolls > Ewe dolls

Collection Anquetil, author of the book "Les Mains du Monde" published by Solar and "l'Afrique Noire" published by ed. Drawing and Tolra. , theater man who became master weaver initiated among the Dogon, president of the French Métiers d'Art. Togolese version of the Ibejdi of the Yorubas, these figurines of twins have a velvety yellow ocher patina.

The Ewe, often confused with the Minas, are Togo's largest ethnic group. They are also found as minorities in Ghana, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria. The Ewe regard the birth of twins called Venavi (or Venovi) as a happy omen. The latter must be treated identically and ...


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150.00





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