African Arts Gallery

Ex-collection African art from Belgium.
Among the African furniture items of daily use is an ancient senoufo seat from the Ivory Coast, with a low, rectangular seat supported by massive legs. This type of stool for individual use, often carved from shea wood, marked the social rank of its owner and was not lent under any circumstances. Beautiful light patina velvety with use. Mainly farmers, the Senoufo group lives in a savannah region that covers the south of Mali and Burkina Faso, and the north of Côte d'Ivoire. It includes about fifty sub-ethnic groups. The Senufo speak a Voltaic language, Gur, like the Lobi and Koulango. Councils of elders, headed by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of ...

This African senoufo mask, adorned with a polychrome pastillage, has a large mouth of tubular ears, horns and fangs, and a summit figure with a cup. This African senoufo mask with a round head, exorbitant pupils, wide toothed jaw and zoomorphic ears, is named 'fire-breather' (Korobla). It is sometimes accessorized with magical attributes. The chameleon motif refers to the emblematic animal that preceded the creation of human beings and symbolizes knowledge, the cup is intended for magical substances.
The Senoufo, the name given to them by french settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages.
Representations of hybrid beings, the ...

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, the institution that controls political and economic life.
Variously shaped fins alternate on the contours of this narrow face topped with growths. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", it is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth.
Dark patina, granular residual inlays.
Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training lasted seven years, began by making everyday ...

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Growths of various shapes alternate around the face of this narrow mask. It is surmounted by an animal scene in the form of a stylized sculpted motif.
Black, grainy patina. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", this mask is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training ...

This feminine figure is surmounted by a lidded container, carved with a stage where zoomorphic subjects mingle, in connection with the bird of divination, in this case the calao grabbing a snake. Caramel ice cream surface with kaolin residue. A wing of the birds is broken.
The Senoufo, a name given to them by French settlers, are mostly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own association Poro which introduces young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years. They gather in a sacred enclosure called ...

Equipped with a sculpted handle and sheathed in metal, this comb refers to the hornbill, which is the primordial bird that is part of the five animals of the Senoufo cosmogony, the first stage of the Senoufo creation. Evoked for morphological and behavioral criteria, it decorates in an emblematic way, in its miniature version, many Senoufo African art objects.
Mainly farmers, the Senoufo group lives in a savannah region that covers the south of Mali and Burkina Faso, and the north of the Ivory Coast. It includes about fifty sub-ethnic groups. The Senufo speak a Voltaic language, Gur, like the Lobi and Koulango. Councils of elders, headed by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named ...

A figure sculpted for divination purposes, this statuette offers bulging volumes evoking a character endowed with a powerful musculature. Framing a chiseled face, the unusual headdress is composed of braided hair, divided into two segments forming a stylized relief. Golden patina, very shaded. Filmy residue. Cracks of desiccation.
The Senoufos, the name given to them by the French colonists, are mainly composed of farmers who are dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Governed by matrilineal traditions, their villages are composed of clusters of houses called katiolo . Each has its own Poro association that initiates young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three seven-year cycles . Upon the death of one of the Poro members, statues named pombibele ...

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Two parallel faces, bordered by fins, topped by excrescences ending in volutes, constitute this "Kpélié" mask meaning "mask that jumps". It was worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth.
Black shiny patina. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training lasted seven years, began by making everyday objects, then, little ...

This statuette of maternity, a female effigy seated on a stool, breastfeeding her child, is represented with braids assembled in a stylized pattern. This sculpted scene generally symbolizes the initiate feeding on the knowledge of the mother goddess. Irregular blackish patina, satin, erosions.
The Senufos , a name given to them by the French colonists, are mostly composed of farmers who are scattered between Mali, the Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo .
At the time of the death of one of the members of the Poro initiation society, statues named pombibele were exhibited. Although exclusively male, the Poro ...

An allegory of bravery, this sculpted narrative scene, featuring a character subduing a snake, recalls an anectode of Senufo creation. Indeed, an inhabitant named Safazani , a snake hunter, attacked a huge boa that warned him not to kill it. Despite his warnings, the man cut up the animal, ate it piece by piece, and the resulting droppings and urine gave rise to the mountains and streams of Senufo country. The center of the object is slightly hollowed out, forming a bowl probably intended for offerings. Desiccation cracks, old polychromy.
The Senoufos, the name given to them by the French colonists, are mostly composed of farmers who were dispersed between Mali, the Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senufo villages. ...

This female figure with graceful arms, her body bearing traditional scarification marks, is represented sitting on a stool. Her hairstyle is made up of braids joined in a crest.
Black brown patina, cracks and abrasions. The Senoufos, the name given to them by the French colonists, are mainly composed of farmers who are scattered between Mali, the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo. Each has its own Poro association that initiates young boys from the age of seven in a succession of three cycles lasting seven years . They gather in a sacred enclosure called sinzanga located near the village, among the trees. Upon ...

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Variously shaped fins alternate on the contours of this narrow mask topped with a chameleon figure. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", it is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth.
Dark patina, with residual ochre incrustations. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training lasted seven years, began by making ...

An alternation of various forms, with Muslim references, make up this Senufo mask of modest proportions, whose contours are decorated with wings and horns. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", it is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth. Dark patina locally encrusted with granular ochre pigments.
The African masks of the Senufo are worn by the male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to keep them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. The anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Named "wife of the Do" by the Dyoula he ...

Mask of the Senoufos of Côte d'Ivoire, globular, whose face is pierced with circular holes highlighted with kaolin. Erected at the top, a sculpted figure symbolizing a hornbill or setyen, an emblematic animal of the Senoufos, spreads its wings widely. The black-brown patina is embellished with red ochre details and a white pastillage. Smooth, satin surface. The Senoufo, the name given to them by the French colonists, are mainly composed of farmers who are scattered between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senoufo villages. Representations of hybrid beings, the zoomorphic African masks of the Senufo are worn by members of the Poro society, the institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is ...

Among the African furniture items of daily use is an ancient senoufo seat from the Ivory Coast, with a very low, rectangular seat supported by four massive legs. This type of stool for individual use, often carved from shea wood, marked the social rank of its owner and was not lent under any circumstances.
Mainly farmers, the Senoufo group lives in a savannah region that covers southern Mali and Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. It includes about fifty sub-ethnic groups. The Senufo speak a Voltaic language, Gur, like the Lobi and Koulango. Councils of elders, headed by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo. Each has its own Poro association that initiates young boys ...

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Variously shaped wings alternate on the contours of this narrow mask topped with a hornbill beak. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", it is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth.
Dark patina, with residual ochre incrustations. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training lasted seven years, began by making ...

Ex-Belgian African art collection.
African slingshot with senoufo mask pattern. Very beautiful honey patina. Desiccation crack.br> Representations of hybrid beings, the zoomorphic African masks of the Sénufo are worn by members of Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals, hence their name, poniugo , "funeral head". Living in a private neighborhood, the sculptor Sénufo , whose training spanned seven years, began with the production of everyday objects, then, little by little, mounted sculptures of larger size. more importantly. Initiation rituals completed his training. The piece features decorative patterns in red and white pastilles.

African slingshot with a Senufo mask motif. Very nice patina of use golden brown.
br>Representations of hybrid beings, the zoomorphic African masks of the Senufo are worn by members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is to honor elders or appear at funerals, hence their name, poniugo, "funeral head." Living in a reserved neighborhood, the senufo sculptor, whose training lasted seven years,began by making everyday objects, and then, gradually, sported sculptures of increasing size. Initiatory rituals completed his training. The piece features decorative motifs in red and white dots.

This African Mask Senoufo, whose original name is Kpeliye, meaning "masque that jumps", is none other than the representation of an ancestor from the secret society of the Poro. Its function is to honor elders or appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly drive the spirit of the deceased from his place of residence. Zoomorphic elements and human figures combine here in a work of very fine craftsmanship. Coming from the Korhogo region of Côte d'Ivoire, he can also be found representing two faces.

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Variously shaped fins alternate on the contours of this narrow face topped with growths. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", it is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth.
Dark patina, with residual ochre incrustations. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training lasted seven years, began by making everyday ...

This male figure of African art Senoufo embodies the three grades of the cycle pondo ( poro en fodonon). It was worn by a masked man at the funeral of a poro chief, and often went in pairs. The character is dressed in a zoomorphic crest in the form of a bird. This African tribal figure depicted sitting carries a machete. Satin golden patina. Eroded base. The Senoufo, the name given to them by French settlers, are mostly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own association Poro which introduces young boys from the age of seven into a succession of ...