A rare authentic antique, pre-contact, most likely a 19th – early 20th century, ceremonial wooden hand drum, "Tifa" or "Kundu" from Papua, New Guinea. The  More »

A rare authentic antique, pre-contact, most likely a 19th – early 20th century, ceremonial wooden hand drum, "Tifa" or "Kundu" from Papua, New Guinea. The hollow-body entirely carved from one piece of wood in elegant hour-glass form, carved with fine traditional tribal motifs. PROVENANCE: From an old Canadian collection of Tribal Art acquired by the owner's grandfather before WWII. CONDITION: In good condition considering its age, showing the age and usage. Encrusted with wear and natural old, very dark patina, with breadfruit sap veneer deposit on the top, some age cracks (as is common in old wood). The bottom with an old native repair using two metal plates and various nails and pins. The repair is not contemporary to the age of the drum but was done later. DIMENSIONS: Height: 67.3 cm (26 1/2 inches). Diameter at the bottom: 17 cm (6.69 inches). The picture on the bottom is showing two other Kundu drums which we have for sale, also please see our other tribal oceanic artifacts. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

African Ceremonial ritual wooden drum (Pinge), Senufo people, African Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire), Korhogo region. Circa 1920-1950. Entirely carved from one piece  More »

African Ceremonial ritual wooden drum (Pinge), Senufo people, African Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire), Korhogo region. Circa 1920-1950. Entirely carved from one piece of wood, the sculpted figure depicting a bare breasted regal woman, seated on a stool, with upraised arms, an arched back, and a strong neck, gracefully supporting and balancing a drum on her head. The drum is carved in low relief with symbols representing various animals, including crocodiles. birds, gazelles and other animals. These symbols have special meaning to Senufo community members. The top with its original hide membrane retained with wood pegs.     CONDITION: Showing the age and usage with wear, scratches, and old patina, some age cracks in the figure of the woman, one leg of the stool damaged.   DIMENSIONS: Height: 95 cm (37.4 inches). Diameter: 30 cm (11 3/4 inches).     A very similar drum is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Please view the link below:     http://www.artic.edu/aic/resources/resource/1037?search_id=1&index=0     Also, another related Senufo drum is in the Dallas Museum of Art, published in the book, The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art, by Roslyn Adele Walker. Page: 176. No 59. Link to Senufo drum is in Dallas Museum of Art.   https://www.dma.org/collection/artwork/african/drum     PROVENANCE: From an old Canadian collection of Tribal Art. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

Antique, late 19th century, African Mangbetu or Zande, bow harp, Kundi. The sound box (Resonator) of the harp is made of wood and covered with snake skin, with  More »

Antique, late 19th century, African Mangbetu or Zande, bow harp, Kundi. The sound box (Resonator) of the harp is made of wood and covered with snake skin, with one round opening on the anterior surface, and small holes for the strings. There are no holes in the neck for the tuning pegs since the strings were fastened to the neck by the loops. Since the shape of the neck is conical, the strings were tuned by shifting the loops of the strings to the thicker or thinner part of the neck as required. This type of harp was made and exchanged among the Mangbetu and Zande kingdoms of the northeastern Congo region. At court entertainments, itinerant minstrels and retainers played gracefully curved bow harps to accompany their stories, poems, and songs. CONDITION: Showing the age and usage with old patina, the snake skin shrunken on joints, missing strings. DIMENSIONS: Overall length: 78 cm (30 3/4 in). Length of the sound box: 50.8 cm (15 1/4 in).Width of the blade 14 cm (5 1/2 in). Length of the neck: 42  cm (16 1/2 in). A very similar example of the harp is in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum amongst other Kundi harps. Please view the link below: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_22.866_Five-stringed_Harp_Kundi.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Harp+Kundi&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go&uselang=en Link to A MANGBETU HARP in Christie’s Amsterdam sale 2, July, 2002. http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-mangbetu-harp-3938825-details.aspx?intObjectID=3938825 PROVENANCE: From an old Canadian collection of Tribal Art, acquired by the owner's grandfather before WWII. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

A vintage, 20th Century, Inuit, Hand Carved Serpentine Stone (Soapstone) sculpture depicting a Seal, by Canadian Arctic Native Artist Juanasi, signed on the bottom  More »

A vintage, 20th Century, Inuit, Hand Carved Serpentine Stone (Soapstone) sculpture depicting a Seal, by Canadian Arctic Native Artist Juanasi, signed on the bottom in Inuit alphabet Juanasi.   CONDITION: In good condition, no cracks or restorations.   MEASUREMENTS: Overall length: 16.5 cm (6 1/2 inches). Height: 8.5 cm (3.35 inches). ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE AUTHENTIC ANTIQUES AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS ALL OUR ARTIFACTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY WE SHIP INTERNATIONALLY   « Less

Excellent example of Island weaving - this lidded bag has a wooden base and a wooden top. Lid slides up the woven strings to open. Intricate black and straw pattern. Woven  More »

Excellent example of Island weaving - this lidded bag has a wooden base and a wooden top. Lid slides up the woven strings to open. Intricate black and straw pattern. Woven lined interior. Circa mid 20th century or earlier. Very good condition.   « Less

Long appleseed necklace, diamond-shaped patterns. Total length is about 128 cm. Thickest part of diamond measures 2 cm. Some slight damage, but basically sound. Has a real  More »

Long appleseed necklace, diamond-shaped patterns. Total length is about 128 cm. Thickest part of diamond measures 2 cm. Some slight damage, but basically sound. Has a real Edwardian appearance.   « Less

Intricate design to this early Tasmanian apple seed necklace. Three large medallions form the lower part of the necklace with thicker herringbone pattern to the upper area.  More »

Intricate design to this early Tasmanian apple seed necklace. Three large medallions form the lower part of the necklace with thicker herringbone pattern to the upper area. Total length of necklace is about 62 cm. Medallions measure 5 cm diameter. Thicker part of necklace is 2 cm deep. Very good condition, a few minor imperfections, but overall has lasted very well.   « Less

This is a very fine and rare piece of niello work,the bracelet has a cushion shaped centre which is a container for either makeup or perfume.It is of small size so would have  More »

This is a very fine and rare piece of niello work,the bracelet has a cushion shaped centre which is a container for either makeup or perfume.It is of small size so would have been a womans. This piece which I purchased near Van from an Armenian is very finely done in a technique which seemed to date to the 16th or 17thc and sometimes earlier.Unlike most niello work where the area to be inlaid is carved out in a "v" shape this is notched,the earliest technique used.The wear to the silver and hinges supports a very early date also.The decoration appears to be semi-abstract of scroll work,I cannot work out the main emblem on the container but it does look a bit like two cats. There is a tiny loss of the niello on one side of the braccelet but apart from that and natural wear the piece is in very good condition. Open the braccelet is approx 6in. or 13.5cm long although being curved it is actually larger than this. It could be worn though is more a collectable.   « Less

This is a very fine and early example of a Moroccan Quran box made of brass with a very heavy almost pure silver overlay.There is extensive impressed and embossed work on the  More »

This is a very fine and early example of a Moroccan Quran box made of brass with a very heavy almost pure silver overlay.There is extensive impressed and embossed work on the brass and there are four plain heavy enamel monochrome features on the ffront no doubt to represent jewels. The box measures 5in x 4.5in x just over 1.5in. The piece is in excellent condition lined with tin which shows considerable age thus my early dating.One of the lugs seems to have parted company with the body at some time and has been rebraized. The back has a believe a Hajri date which I have been unable to convert to the Grgorian calender.   « Less

Pot silver cloak pins or fibulas, scroll design with two beads each, or coral and green agate. Each has its ring, through which the cloak fabric is pushed, with the spike to  More »

Pot silver cloak pins or fibulas, scroll design with two beads each, or coral and green agate. Each has its ring, through which the cloak fabric is pushed, with the spike to then secure it. These are North African. Measurements: 12 cm total length, by 5.2 cm wide.   « Less