{"title":"African","description":"\u003cp\u003eA curated selection of African ethnographic works representing the diverse artistic traditions and material cultures of the African continent.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"congolese-ritual-wood-raffia-kifwebe-mask-luba-songye-drc-early-mid-20th-century","title":"Congolese Ritual Wood \u0026 Raffia Kifwebe Mask – Luba \/ Songye, DRC – Early-Mid 20th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn exceptional Central African Kifwebe mask from the Luba \/ Songye peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, dating to the early-to-mid 20th century. Expertly carved from wood and adorned with original raffia fiber, this striking ceremonial example embodies the powerful visual language and spiritual symbolism associated with Kifwebe society masks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe rounded, domed facial form is deeply incised with concentric striations radiating outward across the surface, creating the hypnotic optical effect characteristic of authentic Kifwebe masks. The contrasting white pigmentation and darkened facial features accentuate the narrow slit eyes, projecting nose ridge, and squared mouth, giving the work a commanding sculptural presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis softer circular form is associated with female Kifwebe masks, traditionally linked to fertility, healing, protection, and social harmony. Such masks were used in ritual dances, funerary ceremonies, initiations, and performances intended to channel spiritual authority and maintain communal order.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe surviving raffia elements add excellent authenticity and display appeal, enhancing the mask’s dramatic ceremonial character. A highly decorative and collectible African tribal artwork with strong gallery presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCulture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Luba \/ Songye, Democratic Republic of the Congo\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early to mid-20th century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carved wood, pigment, raffia fiber\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMask Diameter:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12.75 inches\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRaffia Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 7 inches additional\u003cbr\u003eHand-carved ceremonial example\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOld loss to the interior rim not affecting display. Stable age crack along the edge of the mask with expected abrasions to the nose and crest. Raffia shows fraying and areas of loss consistent with age and ceremonial use. Excellent overall presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrivate Boulder, Colorado collection, acquired from Palmyra Heritage Gallery, New York, in 2023. Previously from the collection of Dr. Arnold R. Saslow, South Orange, New Jersey.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"African","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53224565637487,"sku":null,"price":850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/6967\/5375\/files\/s-l1600-58.jpg?v=1784421950"},{"product_id":"large-52-dogon-mother-and-child-sculpture-mali-west-africa-20th-century","title":"Large 52\" Dogon Mother and Child Sculpture – Mali, West Africa – 20th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking and monumental Dogon Mother and Child sculpture from Mali, carved in hardwood and standing an impressive 52 inches tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge examples of this quality and scale are increasingly difficult to find. The sculpture embodies the timeless elegance of Dogon carving through its elongated proportions, quiet dignity, and powerful architectural presence. The female figure stands with a graceful elongated neck and torso, wearing a carved shell-form necklace and traditional coiffure while gently supporting a child at her left side — an enduring symbol of fertility, ancestry, protection, and the continuation of family lineage within Dogon culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe beautifully aged surface displays decades of natural oxidation, dry patina, areas of encrustation, and honest handling wear acquired through age and use. The result is a sculpture with tremendous visual depth and authenticity that simply cannot be recreated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike many decorative carvings produced for the tourist market, this example possesses the refined proportions, restrained carving, and sculptural sophistication associated with traditional Dogon art.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eArtwork Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCulture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dogon\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mali, West Africa\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Likely 20th Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-carved hardwood\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubject:\u003c\/strong\u003e Standing Mother and Child\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 52 inches\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 23.8 pounds\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFormer European collection by 1980. From the family collection of a respected diplomat and ambassador whose collection was assembled during extensive travel throughout Africa between the 1960s and 1990s while providing charitable medical care across the continent. This documented provenance significantly enhances the sculpture’s historical appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDisplays an excellent aged surface with expected wear consistent with age and traditional use: natural shrinkage cracks, weathered dry patina, areas of pigment loss, old insect activity, scattered chips and abrasions, and minor losses to projecting elements. These characteristics are typical of authentic traditional African sculpture and contribute to the work’s overall character and historical integrity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout Dogon Sculpture\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Dogon people of Mali are internationally celebrated for producing some of the most iconic sculptural traditions in African art. Their figures are admired for their elongated proportions, spiritual symbolism, and remarkable balance between abstraction and naturalism. Mother-and-child figures hold particular significance, symbolizing fertility, protection, continuity of lineage, and the sacred role of women within Dogon cosmology.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorks from the Dogon tradition are represented in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eShipping\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDue to its monumental size, this sculpture will be professionally packed and shipped with full insurance. Local pickup is welcomed. Freight shipping is available for domestic and international buyers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"African","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53224566129007,"sku":null,"price":11000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/6967\/5375\/files\/s-l1600-61.jpg?v=1784422117"},{"product_id":"dogon-lost-wax-bronze-aduno-koro-box-ancestor-figures-19th-century-or-earlier","title":"Dogon Lost-Wax Bronze Aduno Koro Box – Ancestor Figures – 19th Century or Earlier","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rare early African Dogon cast bronze Aduno Koro ritual box, 19th century or earlier, produced using the traditional lost-wax casting technique. This substantial and finely detailed box is surmounted by two ancestor figures on the lid, flanked by serpentine forms on either side. The lower section is supported by two modeled horses, while the sides are decorated with stylized crocodiles or lizards, creating a complex symbolic program integrating ancestral, animal, and cosmological imagery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eObjects of this type are associated with Dogon ritual and elite contexts, often serving as containers for sacred materials, protective substances, or ceremonial regalia. The term \u003cem\u003eAduno Koro\u003c\/em\u003e refers to prestige and ritual objects linked to authority, lineage, and spiritual mediation. The use of bronze and the mastery of lost-wax casting underscore the status of such works within Dogon society.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe combination of human, reptilian, and equine imagery reflects Dogon cosmology, in which animals serve as intermediaries between spiritual and earthly realms. Ancestor figures reinforce lineage continuity, while serpents and reptiles symbolize regeneration, protection, and hidden knowledge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe impressive weight and sculptural complexity of this box indicate production for a high-ranking individual or important ritual context rather than everyday use. Its strong patina and finely preserved details attest to age, authenticity, and long ceremonial life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDimensions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e10” L × 7½” H × 3” W\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWeight\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e5 lbs 13 oz\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eGood, stable condition with deep natural patina. Surface wear consistent with age and traditional use. No modern repairs observed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"African","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53224566554991,"sku":null,"price":1750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/6967\/5375\/files\/s-l1600-34.png?v=1784422276"},{"product_id":"marka-brass-clad-ceremonial-mask-mali-west-africa-hardwood-hammered-brass","title":"Marka Brass-Clad Ceremonial Mask – Mali, West Africa – Hardwood \u0026 Hammered Brass","description":"\u003cp\u003eA large and commanding Marka ceremonial mask from Mali, West Africa, hand-carved from hardwood and richly sheathed in hammered brass sheeting. This impressive example exemplifies the distinctive aesthetic of Marka masquerade tradition — a sophisticated interplay of carved wooden form and applied metalwork that sets Marka masks apart from all other West African masking traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe brass surface is worked into precise geometric registers of incised and repoussé decoration, covering the face in a dense, jewel-like pattern that catches and reflects light with extraordinary effect. The elongated facial form, narrow slit eyes, and projecting features give the mask a hieratic, almost architectural presence that commands attention in any display context.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Marka Masking Tradition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Marka (also known as Marka-Dafing) are a Mande-speaking people of Mali and Burkina Faso with a long history as traders, scholars, and craftspeople. Their masquerade tradition, known as \u003cem\u003edo\u003c\/em\u003e, is associated with the Dwo society and plays a central role in agricultural ceremonies, initiations, and community celebrations intended to ensure fertility, prosperity, and social cohesion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarka masks are among the most visually distinctive in the West African canon. The application of hammered brass or copper sheeting over a carved wooden core is a hallmark of Marka craftsmanship, reflecting both the community’s access to trade metals and their sophisticated metalworking skills. The geometric surface decoration is not merely ornamental — it encodes symbolic meaning related to cosmological order, spiritual protection, and social identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorks from the Marka tradition are held in major institutional collections and are consistently sought after by serious collectors of African art for their rarity, visual impact, and cultural depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eArtwork Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCulture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Marka (Marka-Dafing)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mali, West Africa\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-carved hardwood, hammered brass sheeting\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 28½ × 9 × 4½ inches\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrivate Los Angeles estate collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"African","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53224567374191,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/6967\/5375\/files\/s-l1600-75.jpg?v=1784422491"},{"product_id":"fang-ngil-ceremonial-mask-gabon-central-africa-hand-carved-wood-with-white-pigment","title":"Fang Ngil Ceremonial Mask – Gabon, Central Africa – Hand-Carved Wood with White Pigment","description":"\u003cp\u003eA large and powerful Fang mask from Gabon, Central Africa, hand-carved from wood with original white kaolin pigment preserved around the eyes. This striking example embodies the celebrated Fang aesthetic — an elongated, heart-shaped face with refined, symmetrical features, a high domed forehead, and a composed, inward-looking expression that conveys both spiritual authority and sculptural mastery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe retention of original white pigment is a significant detail. White kaolin clay holds deep symbolic meaning in Fang culture, associated with the spirit world, ancestral presence, and the liminal space between the living and the dead. Its survival here speaks to the care with which this object has been preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Fang Masking Tradition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Fang are a Bantu-speaking people inhabiting Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and southern Cameroon, widely regarded as one of the great sculptural traditions of Central Africa. Their works are among the most recognized and collected in the canon of African art, represented in virtually every major museum collection worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFang masks of this type are associated with the \u003cem\u003eNgil\u003c\/em\u003e society — a powerful male initiation and judicial association responsible for maintaining social order, punishing wrongdoers, and mediating between the community and the ancestral realm. Ngil masks were among the most feared and respected objects in Fang society, appearing at night in firelight during ceremonies of justice, initiation, and spiritual cleansing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe elongated facial form, high forehead, and refined linear features are hallmarks of the Fang sculptural canon. These formal qualities — their radical simplification and geometric purity — had a profound influence on early 20th-century European modernism, particularly the work of Picasso, Braque, and the Cubists, who encountered Fang sculpture in Paris in the years before World War I.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eArtwork Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCulture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fang\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gabon, Central Africa\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-carved wood, white kaolin pigment\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 22 × 8¼ × 11½ inches\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrivate Los Angeles estate collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal white pigment preserved around the eyes. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"African","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53224568652143,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/6967\/5375\/files\/s-l1600-80.jpg?v=1784422699"},{"product_id":"yaka-kholuka-initiation-mask-with-puppet-figure-museum-exhibited-published-northern-yaka-drc-early-20th-century","title":"Yaka Kholuka Initiation Mask with Puppet Figure – Museum Exhibited \u0026 Published – Northern Yaka, DRC – Early 20th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rare and distinguished early 20th century Yaka \u003cem\u003ekholuka\u003c\/em\u003e initiation mask from the Northern Yaka people of the Democratic Republic of Congo — museum exhibited at Oberlin College and published in the accompanying catalogue from the Ralph T. Coe Collection of African Art. Works with this level of institutional provenance and publication history represent the highest tier of the African art market.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCarved from wood and richly adorned with raffia, cloth, and pigment, this mask — known among the Yaka as \u003cem\u003en-khanda\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003em-khanda\u003c\/em\u003e — is a key emblem of the Makunda male initiation society, used during the final and most celebrated stages of boys’ transition into manhood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eForm \u0026amp; Iconography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe wooden face displays archetypal Yaka features: heavy-lidded eyes set within circular ridges, a pronounced downturned nose, and pursed lips, all framed by a dense raffia ruff. Beneath the raffia is a concealed stabilizing rod that allowed the dancer to steady the mask during energetic performance. Rising above the face is a multi-tiered wickerwork coiffure painted in alternating red and black bands — a visual marker of the elevated social rank of the mask’s owner.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAtop the conical superstructure is a puppet-like figure made of cloth and fiber, depicted in an explicit pose of a man administering himself an enema. Such figures — whether erotic, satirical, or narrative — reference themes of sexuality, fertility, and social commentary. They often parody outsiders, deviant behavior, or foreign customs, reinforcing Yaka identity and values during initiation festivities.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eRitual Function\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003ekholuka\u003c\/em\u003e mask is not worn by initiates, but by a senior \u003cem\u003en-khanda\u003c\/em\u003e official — typically the leader of the initiation or a high-ranking member of the men’s society. As the most popular mask in the male initiation masquerade, it is danced last, often by a charismatic performer whose exaggerated gestures and bawdy humor deliberately transgress social taboos. Beyond entertainment, the \u003cem\u003ekholuka\u003c\/em\u003e functions as a powerful ritual object, incorporating substances such as ashes from a destroyed initiation mask to ensure spiritual continuity across generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eArtwork Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCulture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northern Yaka\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early 20th century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carved wood, raffia, cloth, pigment\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14 in W × 35 in H (35.6 × 88.9 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eExhibition History\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSelections from the Ralph T. Coe Collection of African Art\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAllen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, USA\u003cbr\u003eOctober 3 – December 15, 2002\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePublication\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSelections from the Ralph T. Coe Collection of African Art\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAllen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College exhibition catalogue\u003cbr\u003ePage 29, illustration #16, and back cover\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRalph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired 2010 via descent • Ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired November 1993 • Ex-Africa Escapes, London, England, UK\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFragile, with shedding to raffia and loose pigments, as well as a tear to the cloth on the first tier. Some scratches and fraying present. Rich patina throughout. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"African","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53224569700719,"sku":null,"price":1800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/6967\/5375\/files\/s-l1600-84_d5b96658-8939-4a46-bbe3-2a45dbdfc829.jpg?v=1784422989"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.lybrothersfineart.com\/collections\/african.oembed","provider":"L\/Y Brothers","version":"1.0","type":"link"}