ON SALE! WAS $650. Awesome, mid century, large Dogon mask, carved from one piece of wood with male and female ancestor figures supporting a divination bow atop head. Well  More »

ON SALE! WAS $650. Awesome, mid century, large Dogon mask, carved from one piece of wood with male and female ancestor figures supporting a divination bow atop head. Well weathered with traces of red ochre-like color in the eye sockets. Original braided netting mostly intact, but brittle. Minor cracks and losses as seen in the photos. Very impressive mask. Approximately 19 1/2" overall. No repairs or restorations. DOGON The Dogon are a cliff-dwelling people who live in Southeastern Mali and. Among the people groups in Africa they are unique in that they have kept and continued to develop their own culture even in the midst of Islamic invasions which have conquered and adapted many of the current people groups Until the 1930's the Dogon were very insolated from the outside world and resisted any foreign influence. Through oral tradition it is said that they originated from the west bank of the Niger River, around 1490 A.D. they were fleeing from the Mossi people and entered the Bandiagara cliffs region. There they have lived ever since. Because of their refuge in the cliffs they were able to resist the Muslims, the French, and others who have attempted to conquer them. The Dogon are divided into family groups which are responsible for different spheres of Dogon life. The Awa society is responsible for much of the spiritual functions of Dogon culture concerning death and mourning periods, they are communicate with the ancestor spirits. The Lebe are the group responsible for the agricultural spirits. They build many different alters out of clay and dirt. In their artwork they are well-known for their masks which are used in various ceremonies and rituals. The masks are known as "inima," they are thought to contain the life force which is known as "nyama." There are over 65 different kinds of masks used for ceremonies. Their woodwork is amazing and is known for the different, "primitive" look which has disappeared from much African pieces. The Dogon use mainly red, black, and white colors as well as many varieties of browns developed from the reddish sand like dirt which surrounds the country. Dogon artwork is all intricately hand carved and much of it has much cultural influence. Price is firm. Thanks for looking! Please check out our other items!   « Less

ON SALE! WAS $1,200. A very large, impressive village protector mask that displays very well on a stand or on the wall. Carved from one piece of wood and measures about 27"  More »

ON SALE! WAS $1,200. A very large, impressive village protector mask that displays very well on a stand or on the wall. Carved from one piece of wood and measures about 27" overall. Cracks and wear as per photos. One large old stable crack/splinter runs along the bottom of jaw. Overall great patina. This mask has great provenance and great presence. Mid 20th century and one of the last generation of masks that were actually used. The braided copper wire shown in the photos is to mount the mask on a wall. Provenance: From the Collection of Ambassador Patricia and Mr. Richard Hawkins. Ambassador Hawkins is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Togo. She has previously served the State Department in Zaire, now Democratic Republic of the Congo; Burkina Faso; and Cote D'Ivoire. Richard Hawkins is also a career Foreign Service Diplomat. Both of them have connoisseur's eyes. The Hawkins' have collected African art for many years, and we are delighted to offer a portion of their magnificent collection. This mask was purchased from the company "Africa Direct" (a Colorado based African art dealer, who purchased Ambassador Hawkin's collection in its entirety. The original Africa Direct site listing with photos of the mask, detailed description, invoice number and price accompanies the mask. It was listed 6 years ago and wrongly described as a Senufo firespitter mask. This mask is known as "bonu amwin". It represents a buffalo, symbol of force contained. Surmounted by a large pair of horns, a broad rectangular mouth shows the teeth. The teeth symbolize the force of the animal which must defend it It was used for protecting the villages from the bad fates and from insufficient harvests when the village men left for war. Country North-Baoule. This mask displays a Senufo influence.. Price is firm. Thanks for looking! Please check out our other items!   « Less

ON SALE! WAS $595. Here we have an outstanding Dan bird / human mask, with a large protruding beak. It is carved from one piece of wood with long straw "hair" and braided  More »

ON SALE! WAS $595. Here we have an outstanding Dan bird / human mask, with a large protruding beak. It is carved from one piece of wood with long straw "hair" and braided fabric decoration, all topped off by a brass bell. Excellent overall, no restorations or repairs, probably 1970's - 1980's vintage. Mask approximately 10" tall, approximately 20" tall overall. DAN (DAN-GIOH, GIO, GIOH, GYO, YACOUBA, YACUBA, YAKUBA) Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Guinea The 350,000 Dan live mostly in the western part of the Côte d’Ivoire and into Liberia, where the land is forested in the south and bordered by a savannah in the north. They make their living from farming cocoa, coffee, rice and manioc. They also live off game and fish. The Dan have the reputation of being fierce warriors, always battling their neighbors, the We, the Guro, and the Mano. From a cultural viewpoint the Dan are close to the We populations situated in forest regions of the south, and against whom they have waged innumerable wars. Lacking a central authority, the various groups had neither a political institution nor unity. The village is under authority of a chief and a council of elders. In addition, there were male associations that attempted to bring about a socio-political unity, reinforcing rules of behavior, demanding absolute loyalty and obedience from members, and giving an initiatory education to the young. These societies called upon the tutelary spirits of the bush. The most powerful, even today, is the secret society of the leopard, the go, which, without having fully achieved its stabilizing and unifying goal, nevertheless grows from one year to the next. The leopard society acts as a major regulator of Dan life and initiates young men during their isolated periods of three to four months in the forest. In order to attain adult status, all the boys and girls of the same age-group undergo an initiation that includes, in addition to specific teaching, circumcision for the former and clitoridectomy for the latter. To underline the transitional aspect of this trial, it takes place in the world of the bush – the realm inhabited by spirits who, like the ancestors, can play a mediating role between humans and supreme being Zran. Dan people have achieved notoriety for their entertainment festivals, which were village ceremonies, but are today performed largely for important visitors. During these festivals, masked performers dance on stilts. The go master, the head of the like-named society possesses the masks and guards them in a sacred hut. All Dan masks are sacred; they do not represent spirits of the wilderness, they are these spirits. Dan masks are characterized by a concave face, a protruding mouth, high-domed forehead and are often covered in a rich brown patina. There are a variety of Dan face masks, each of which has a different function. They may be the intermediaries, who acts between the village and the forest initiation camp, may act against bush fires during the dry season, used in pre-war ceremonies, for peace-making ceremonies, for entertainment. Over time, many among them have lost their original function and have been recycled into contexts related to entertainment, emerging only for festivals or events organized for visitors. Nonetheless, the great masks live on, their even more rare appearances being reserved for times of tension, when it is important they may exercise their role of social control and their faculty to reduce conflict or settle legal wrangles. The Dan also carried small masks (less than 8”), which are sometimes called ‘passport’ masks. They were sewn onto a piece of cloth and kept in a leather pouch and possibly worn in the small of the back. They are miniature copies of a family mask and sometimes received libations. These masks also act as witnesses during initiation ceremonies and protect the owner when he is away from home. Dan masks are the real treasures of African art tradition, ranging in their expressive powers from gentle tenderness to fierce aggression. The Dan statues are not representation of ancestors or spirits. These figures, which were commissioned by powerful chiefs as three-dimensional portraits of their favorite spouses function as maternity figures with babies on their back. They are kept hidden inside houses and are only revealed during important occasions such as visits by foreign dignitaries. A woman who has distinguished herself through her hospitality and generosity will own a superb spoon of sculpted wood. This is a custom specific to the Dan. This woman’s role, in the heart of the village, is to receive and feed travelers, musicians participating in celebrations, and men who have come to help clear the fields. The spoon possesses the power to make one rich and famous and confers a sure authority over the other women. The spoons have several shapes: the most usual one has a handle fashioned after a human head, comparable to certain masks; others have handles that form pairs of legs. The carvers also produce chiefs' staffs and female figures that seem to be prestige items, as are small figures cast in brass. Price is firm. Thanks for looking.   « Less

ON SALE! WAS $695. Here is a very good Dan mask, used to bring prosperity to the hunt. It has long tusks, covered with woven material, metal teeth and a nice earthy,  More »

ON SALE! WAS $695. Here is a very good Dan mask, used to bring prosperity to the hunt. It has long tusks, covered with woven material, metal teeth and a nice earthy, decorative, woven head cover. A woven eye mask, braided rope stitches and a dried grass beard adorn the mask . The mask part is about 10” tall. Probably made in the late 20th century. An exceptional display piece is excellent condition. No repairs or restorations. Price is firm. Thanks for looking! Please check out our other listings!   « Less

SALE! WAS $1,800. A exceptional, early Grebo mask, Liberia, Africa, with horns, multiple eyes, open eyes and protruding tongue, early - mid 20th century. Wonderful encrusted  More »

SALE! WAS $1,800. A exceptional, early Grebo mask, Liberia, Africa, with horns, multiple eyes, open eyes and protruding tongue, early - mid 20th century. Wonderful encrusted patina with mud cloth “hood” attached. Minor age cracks, losses and insect damage, see photos. The fine lines, symmetrical carving and the very light weight of the wood are indicative of the earlier period. 15 1/2" tall. No restorations or repairs. Integrally carved from one piece of wood. Museum quality! GREBO Liberia "Grebo" means "leaping monkey people," a reference to their flight from a former homeland near the Sahara. Their major economic activity is producing palm oil and palm kernels for export. The culture of the Grebo, a little-known ethnic group inhabiting the coastal region of eastern Liberia and the bordering forestlands, was shaped in a considerable degree by their neighbors to the north, the Kran and Dan. Unlike the other people living in Liberia, the Grebo are not structured by the Poro society. They are ruled by a chief known as bodio who lives in near total isolation and also assumed the function of grand priest. The Grebo sculpt several types of masks. One type is characterized by a massive face surmounted by two buffalo horns. The second type of masks represents the female ideal with slit eyes and sweetness of expression. The third type are male war masks, more abstract and flat, formed by a board with elongated nose and one or more pairs of tubular eyes. The masks appeared during rituals reserved for initiates and at the time of festive occasions, when the whole population was able to see them. The war masks designed primarily to terrify appeared during battles, in the dances beforehand, and at the funerals of warriors. Price is firm. Thanks for looking.   « Less

ON SALE! WAS $595. A very beautiful African mask with gorgeous patina, braided textiles, small animal horns and brass bells. Probably circa 1960's. Ex collection Bill  More »

ON SALE! WAS $595. A very beautiful African mask with gorgeous patina, braided textiles, small animal horns and brass bells. Probably circa 1960's. Ex collection Bill Powers, PA. Some losses from wear, use and age, see photos. No restorations or repairs. A certificate of provenance and authenticity from a New York gallery accompanies the mask. It states that the mask is early to mid 20th century. WE (KRAN, GERE, GUERE WOBE, GWERE, NGERE WOBO, WEE) Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia Modern ethnology puts the Wobe and Guere together under the name We, despite the fact that the people themselves use the old names. The We population is estimated at 100,000. Rice, yams, taro, manioc, maize, and bananas are the primary crops grown. Farming and hunting have been largely replaced by laboring in the diamond camps or working at the rubber plantations. Confederations govern both ethnic groups -- the largest is the warrior confederation which is led by a military chief, who also acts as a civil authority. The family units also play an important role in We social life. The art of Guere and Wobe people is stylistically connected and both groups are often collectively referred to as We, meaning "men who easily forgive." Like the Dan, the We use a wide variety of masquerades, which hold important regulatory position within their small, egalitarian communities. Masks are owned by families and used by individual lineage members in contexts of social control, boy’s circumcision camps, and entertainment. Most We masks were created to frighten with the gaping jaws and tubular eyes. The style of these forest living people differ from the sophisticated, gentle and often refined art of the neighboring savanna-dwellers. We people produce a variety of masks often characterized by enlarged triangular nose, an open mouth and tubular eyes. We statues are rare. Price is firm. Thanks for looking! Please check out our other items!   « Less

ON SALE! WAS $395. A nice example of a Bete Gre mask in very good condition, just minor losses and age cracks, see photo. No restorations or repairs. Unusual 'quiet" suttle  More »

ON SALE! WAS $395. A nice example of a Bete Gre mask in very good condition, just minor losses and age cracks, see photo. No restorations or repairs. Unusual 'quiet" suttle expression. Decorated with metal tacks. Probably circa 1980. Approximately 13" tall. BETE The Côte d'Ivoire is the home to the Bete -- they live in the southwestern part of the country, between the Akan ethnic groups to the east and the Guro tribe to the north. They number about 600,000 and are an agricultural group. Patrilinear, the Bete live – under the ancestors’ authority – in small “headless” villages. Historically they were hunters, but nowadays they also farm. They grow what is needed for a subsistence economy. They also have linked to the market economy and much of their effort is devoted to the cultivation of cacao and coffee. Religion, omnipresent in Bete life, aims to maintain a harmonious relationship between nature and the ancestors who are responsible for the welfare of the tribe. Today the vast majority still follow their traditional African religion, believing in a creator God Lago, but do not pray to or worship him. Instead they seek help from many lesser spirits supposed to have supernatural power to help them, or give protection--spirits of their ancestors, spirits that inhabit trees, rivers, rocks, etc. They observe many customs and taboos and make sacrifices of eggs, chickens, cows, etc. Each ritual focuses on the maintenance and care of good relations with the world of ancestors, so as to assure the protection of the lineages. The religious cults give rise to numerous mask performances, during the course of which the music assumes fundamental importance. The apprenticeship of male youngsters particularly concentrates on the mastery of these arts. In fact, within a village context the men form into veritable dance societies, membership in which Bete carvers are renowned for one particular type of face mask, the gre or nyabwa , which has exaggerated, grimacing distorted features – a large protruding mouth, facial protuberances, bulging forehead, elongated nose, with nostrils sometimes extending to each side of the face, and globular or bulging slit eyes set beneath a high-domed forehead carved with a medium ridge. In earlier days, this mask presided over the ceremony held when peace was restored after armed conflicts and it participated in sessions of customary justice. This type of mask was also worn to prepare men for war; the masks were used to envoke the "Gre"; the forces of nature that were terror in its purest form. Nowadays, it is worn for a variety of ceremonies, including entertainment dances. Price is firm. Thanks for looking! Please check out our other items!   « Less

ON SALE! WAS $495. Here is an awesome vintage Bete tribe mask, a very eerie mask that looks like it has several protruding horns! Integrally carved from one piece of wood,  More »

ON SALE! WAS $495. Here is an awesome vintage Bete tribe mask, a very eerie mask that looks like it has several protruding horns! Integrally carved from one piece of wood, the work of a master carver! About 13” tall x 6 ¼” wide x 6 ¼” deep. Scary carving! Normal age cracks and aging to wood. Price is firm. Please check out our other listings for more great items. Thanks!   « Less

ON SALE! WAS $595. Here is an awesome vintage Bete tribe mask, the type known as 1,000 eyes! A very sought after form! Integrally carved from one piece of wood, the work of  More »

ON SALE! WAS $595. Here is an awesome vintage Bete tribe mask, the type known as 1,000 eyes! A very sought after form! Integrally carved from one piece of wood, the work of a master carver! About 11” tall x 7” wide x 6 ½” deep. Spectacular piece! Normal age cracks and aging to wood. Price is firm. Please check out our other listings for more great items! Thanks!   « Less

An old Asante Akua'ba figure from the members of a large complex of Akan peoples in southeastern Ivory Coast and southern Ghana. The most famous of all Akan sculptures is the  More »

An old Asante Akua'ba figure from the members of a large complex of Akan peoples in southeastern Ivory Coast and southern Ghana. The most famous of all Akan sculptures is the small female figures called Akua'ba. These are dolls carried by girls and women to promote their ability to conceive and ensure the beauty of their offspring. The round, flat disc heads, columnar body with outstretched arms and smooth surface convey the Asante (or Ashanti) ideal of beauty. This beautiful Akua'ba doll measures about 13 3/4" in height. Price is firm. We combine shipping whenever possible   « Less