African Arts Gallery

Collection of African Belgian art.
An old grainy ocher patina covers these three Bambara animal sculptures in black iron. The mammal is a symbol of fertility and vigor.
Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah zone, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have named them, belong to the large Mande group, along with the Soninke and the Malinke. Mainly farmers, but also breeders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. The Bambara nyamakala artisan groups, more specifically the blacksmiths named numu, are in charge of carving ritual objects, endowed with the nyama , occult energy. Using fire and magic items, they are further assigned the role of healer and diviner.
Their powers are passed on to their wives, who alone have the right to ...

In use until the Second World War, this type of metal bars could be used as currencies of exchange within the groups jukun, koma, fulani, etc... some of them adopt the stylized form of a snake .
The Peuls or Fulani (from "Ful" scattered) are a mainly nomadic people found from Senegal to Chad, from the Sahel to northern Nigeria and Cameroon. While some are breeders and pastoralists, others are farmers or sedentary traders.

Belgian African art collection.
Thick old patina for this stylized animal figure of the Bambara, made of black iron. The mammal is a symbol of fertility and vigor. Grainy texture, ochre patina.
Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah area, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have called them, belong to the large Mande group, along with the Soninke and the Malinke. Mostly farmers, but also breeders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. The groups of Bambara artisans nyamakala , more specifically the blacksmiths named numu , are in charge of sculpting ritual objects, endowed with the nyama , occult energy. Using fire and magical objects, the role of healer and diviner is also assigned to them.
Their powers are ...

Iron Dogon representing a fictional animal with legs made up of anthropomorphic figures. Fine triangular patterns are incised on the surface. The curved shape of the base allows for rocking motion.
Dogon blacksmiths form an endogamous caste among the Dogon called irim. They now produce weapons, tools, and also work with wood. "Masters of fire" associated in the Dogon cosmogony with the primordial beings "Nommo" created by the god Ama, they are also supposed to heal burns. Small metal objects, made using the lost-wax technique, were widespread in the Inner Niger Delta region, with copper reaching it through trans-Saharan trade. Excavations on the Bandiagara plateau have in fact brought to light vestiges of iron and steel sites prior to the 15th century, the date of the arrival of ...

The Lobi have a great diversity of African sculptures in wrought iron, for protective purposes. This is a figure with a very stylized silhouette. Ocher brown grainy patina.
The populations of the same cultural region, grouped together under the name "lobi", form a fifth of the inhabitants of Burkina Faso. Few in number in Ghana, they have also settled in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. It was at the end of the 18th century that the Lobi, coming from North Ghana, established themselves among the indigenous Thuna and Puguli, the Dagara, the Dian, the Gan and the Birifor. The Lobi believe in a Creator God named Thangba Thu, whom they address through the worship of many intermediary spirits, the Thil, these the latter being supposed to protect them, with the help of the diviner, against a ...

These primitive coins in the shape of a large hoe, in large format, were used for offerings, as a wedding dowry and of course for major festive and ceremonial occasions. The Anga tribes of the Jos plateau in northern Nigeria offered this type of object as a dowry to the father of the future wife. These coins also had a ceremonial function during the celebration of the union. However, some attribute these particular shaped coins to the Afos, a neighboring tribe established below the Jos plateau. The Afos speak a Benue-Congolese language: Eyoli. Two parts stand out, a narrow handle and the lower part of a rectangular shape called the shovel shape which is also found in the Mambilas.
The oxidation of old iron offers a grainy orange patina.

Belgian African art collection.
This Dogon iron was collected in the 1950s by Monsieur Arnaud, accompanying Alain Bilot,
renowned collector of Dogon art, during study trips to Mali.

The Dogon blacksmiths form an endogamous caste among the Dogon called irim. Today they produce weapons, tools,and also work with wood. "Masters of fire" associated in Dogon cosmogony with the primordial beings "Nommo" created by the god Ama, they are also supposed to cure burns. Small metal objects, made using the lost wax technique, were widespread in the region of the interior delta of the Niger, copper reaching it thanks ...

Coated with a thick oxidized patina, this very refined work in black iron highlights field work.
Established in central and southern Mali, in a savannah zone, the Bambara, "Bamana" or "unbelievers", as the Muslims have named them, belong to the large Mande group, along with the Soninke and the Malinke. Mainly farmers, but also breeders, they make up the largest ethnic group in Mali. The Bambara nyamakala artisan groups, more specifically the blacksmiths named numu, are in charge of carving ritual objects, endowed with the nyama , occult energy. Using fire and magic items, they are further assigned the role of healer and diviner.
Their powers are passed on to their wives, who alone have the right to produce the pottery.

The Lobi have a great variety of protective wrought iron sculptures, frequently taking the form of snakes. This specimen, which was planted in the ground, is distinguished by the silhouette of an antelope's head surmounting the undulations. Old ocher brown patina.
The populations of the same cultural region, grouped together under the name "lobi", form a fifth of the inhabitants of Burkina Faso. Few in number in Ghana, they have also settled in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. It was at the end of the 18th century that the Lobi, coming from North Ghana, established themselves among the indigenous Thuna and Puguli, the Dagara, the Dian, the Gan and the Birifor. The Lobi believe in a Creator God named Thangba Thu, whom they address through the worship of many intermediary spirits, the ...

The Mandjong were used for marriage dowries in the northeastern regions of Gabon and northern Congo Brazaville. Elements of these currencies of a particularly elegant design, such as the extremities for example, could also be taken as a means of payment. Roberto Ballarini, in his work "The Perfect Form", notes moreover that a marriage could require in 1935 up to 100 Madjong. Irregular rust brown patina.
Tribe of the Kota group, the Kwélé, Bakwélé, live in the forest on the northern border of the Republic of Congo. They live from hunting, agriculture and metallurgy. Practicing the cult called Bwété borrowed from the Ngwyes, which was accompanied by obligatory initiation rites, they used at the end of the ceremonies the ekuk masks linked to the spirits of the forest.

These primitive coins in the shape of a large hoe, in large format, were used for offerings, as a wedding dowry and of course for major festive and ceremonial occasions. The Anga tribes of the Jos plateau in northern Nigeria offered this type of object as a dowry to the father of the future wife. These coins also had a ceremonial function during the celebration of the union. However, some attribute these particular shaped coins to the Afos, a neighboring tribe established below the Jos plateau. The Afos speak a Benue-Congolese language: Eyoli. Two parts stand out, a narrow handle and the lower part of a rectangular shape called the shovel shape which is also found in the Mambilas.
The oxidation of old iron offers a grainy orange patina.

The Matakam also called Mafa are a population of Central Africa, especially present in the extreme north of Cameroon, also in Nigeria. They are known to have been the first in contact with the German settlers. Monotheists, they believe in a "god of humans" named Jigilé whose spelling may vary. Nevertheless, they remain animists and therefore seek to attract and retain the benevolence of the forces of nature. The ancestors being the mediators between the world of the living and Jigilé, the Matakam therefore practice ancestor worship. In Africa, before the colonial period, payments were never made in coins. Transactions were made using cowries, pearls, cattle, kola nuts, but also metals, particularly iron. These primitive currencies were used during commercial and social exchanges, for ...

This Dogon iron was collected in the 1950s by Monsieur Arnaud, accompanying Alain Bilot,
renowned collector of Dogon art, during study trips to Mali.

Dogon blacksmiths form an endogamous caste among the Dogon called irim. Today they produce weapons, tools,and also work with wood. "Masters of fire" associated in Dogon cosmogony with the primordial beings "Nommo" created by the god Ama, they are also supposed to cure burns. Small metal objects, made using the lost wax technique, were widespread in the region of the interior delta of the Niger, copper reaching it thanks to the trans-Saharan trade. Excavations on ...

Minimalism for this zoomorphic figure in black iron. A slender silhouette offering residues of libations mixed with baby bird's down. Grainy rust patina.
The populations of the same cultural region, grouped together under the name "lobi", make up a fifth of the inhabitants of Burkina Faso. Few in number in Ghana, they have also settled in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. It was at the end of the 18th century that the Lobi, coming from North Ghana, established themselves among the indigenous Thuna and Puguli, the Dagara, the Dian, the Gan and the Birifor. The Lobi believe in a Creator God named Thangba Thu, whom they address through the worship of many intermediary spirits, the Thil, these the latter being supposed to protect them, with the help of the diviner, against a host of plagues. ...

"Execution" knives are also parade weapons, such as this ngulu with a wooden handle partially wrapped with copper wire. In northwestern Zaire, south of the Ubangi,live the 6000 Moswea-Ngombe of Bantu language. Their neighbors are the Ngbandi and the Ngbaka and various banda groups. They knew no god but expected favors from their ancestors, among them health and prosperity. Their throwing knives used for hunting were used as currency.
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Minimalism for this anthropomorphic figure in black iron. A graceful male figure that seems to be propelled by contrast thanks to the size of its body. Crusty mottled patina. The populations of the same cultural region, grouped under the name "Lobi", make up one fifth of the inhabitants of Burkina Faso. Although they are not very numerous in Ghana, they have also settled in the north of the Ivory Coast. It was at the end of the eighteenth century that the Lobi , coming from northern Ghana, settled among the indigenous Thuna and Puguli, the Dagara , the Dian , the Gan and the Birifor . The Lobi believe in a creator God named Thangba Thu, to whom they turn through the worship of numerous intermediate spirits, the Thil, the latter being supposed to protect them, with the help of the ...

Dit Dogon ijzer werd in de jaren 1950 verzameld door Monsieur Arnaud, die Alain Bilot,
beroemd verzamelaar van Dogon kunst, tijdens studiereizen naar Mali.

Dogon smeden vormen een endogame kaste onder de Dogon, irim genaamd. Tegenwoordig maken ze wapens, gereedschap en bewerken ze ook hout. "Meesters van het vuur", in de Dogon kosmogonie geassocieerd met de oerwezens "Nommo" geschapen door de god Ama, worden ook verondersteld brandwonden te genezen. Kleine metalen voorwerpen, vervaardigd met behulp van de verloren-wastechniek, waren wijdverspreid in het gebied van de binnenlandse delta van de Niger, waar het ...

This Dogon iron was collected in the 1950s by Monsieur Arnaud, accompanying Alain Bilot,
renowned collector of Dogon art, during study trips to Mali.

Dogon blacksmiths form an endogamous caste among the Dogon called irim. Today they produce weapons, tools,and also work with wood. "Masters of fire" associated in Dogon cosmogony with the primordial beings "Nommo" created by the god Ama, they are also supposed to cure burns. Small metal objects, made using the lost wax technique, were widespread in the region of the interior delta of the Niger, copper reaching it thanks to the trans-Saharan trade. Excavations ...

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Ofo sculptures, mediating objects in African art
. This sculpture named Ofo (from the name of the tree in which it was made) has a face haloed by a large crest. Its base forms three spirals. The wooden bust is trimmed with metal rods and ribbons, some of them in coiled patterns. A rare and symbolic piece held by an elder named N'dichie , and associated with the agnatic lineage, on which an oath was sometimes taken, this black iron object was displayed in Igbo homes and altars. The Igbo live in the forest in southeastern Nigeria. This tradition later spread to neighboring ethnic groups. Based on a botanical sculpture from a "male" tree, and composed of brittle twigs, images of boys dependent on their father and then becoming detached from him, this object is part of a type ...

Tribal art collection for sale by Jan Putteneers.
The tribal coins made of black iron in African art.
This primitive African coin is made up of two ringed iron rods forming a string-like arc. The arc extends from serpentiform elements with a soaring end. This item had currency value during the pre-colonial period in Nigeria. ( " The Perfect Form R. Ballarini, p.154)
Patina visibly old, light brown speckled with ochre.
From all times, people have used barter to exchange goods. Then came the first system of real currency, the small shells-porcelain called cauris. The African continent is particularly rich in so-called 'primitive' currencies. These valuable coins are made of black iron, a particularly sought-after metal, others are made of copper, more valuable than ...

This primitive African currency takes the form of a flared blade under which volute arms emerge. The surface is hammered with notches forming a regular relief. The lower base, at the tip, could be recorded in the ground. In Africa, before the colonial period, payments were never made in coins. Transactions were made using cauris, pearls, cattle, kola nuts, but also metals, including iron in particular. These primitive currencies were used in trade, social exchanges, for dowries in particular, but could also constitute objects of parade or throw weapons. In Sierra Leone, goods were assessed against iron bars called barriferri. The king generally controlled the production or delivery of the kingdom's currency. The variety of these metallic forms is wide, and these sometimes take on the ...