African, Nigeria, Benin Kingdom
Head of an Oba, 1900-1950 Copper alloy 13 1/4 h. x 12" dia.
Copper alloy head of an Oba, or King of Benin, wearing a cross-hatched cap and layered strings of coral beads along the neck with a wide-eyed expression, round cheeks, horizontal nose, and rendered lips. Research reveals that members of the Benin Guild of bronzecasters who formerly worked only for Benin Kings began to produce bronze heads for other audiences after the 1897 invasion. Since these were descendants of the same guild that produced the Benin bronzes in the 1897 loot, their products cannot be easily classfied as "inauthentic."
AFRICAN, Sierra Leone, Mende people
Crescent moon-shaped seat supported by a single wood pole, carved in a spiral design. The seat's tapered ends are small rounded knobs carved at each end.
AFRICAN, Liberia, Dan people
Carved wood Mancala game board in an aminal form with head and tail-like shapes segregated by a table-like structure with 12 cups; four carved tapering legs extending from each corner. Played with small stones, beans or seeds and rows of holes or pits in the earth, Mancala games are a family of two-player strategy board games or other playing surface. The objective is usually to capture all or some set of the opponent's pieces.
Cote D'Ivoire, Grebo people
Wood and metal mask with large bell-shaped metal attachments along longer jaw; wide open moutn with slit eyes.
Wood funeral marker with rounded face and non-descript lower figure.
Stone figure of a Ngy female marker mounted on black base; facial features have worn and appear non-descript.
Shone man with modern abstract faces
Polished and soapstone of sculpted and modernized face.
Shone man with modern abstract face
Carved and polished soapstone sculpture of an abstracted face.
Democratic Republic of Congo, Yombe
Democratic Republic of Congo, Songye people
Royal woman sculpture with woman holding twins
Bronze sculpture of woman holding twins at sides.
Mozambique, Makonde people
Moping female figure sitting on a stool
Carved wood seated female figure with dark markings throughout her face and in between her breasts; female appears with human hair.
Carved wood ceremonial post with geometic forms and slight traces of paint.
Carved wood Kigango ceremonial post with carved geometic forms and slight traces of blue paint.
Sierra Leone, Mende people
Wood female initiation sculpture mounted on stone base with hands pointed downward and ringed neck.
Wood Sowei mask with feline animal features.
Sowei mask with raffia skirt which extends from base.
Brass palace plaque identified as coming from the Benin Kingdom; plaque includes four soldiers with helmets and shields.
Brass palace plaque identified as coming from the Benin Kingdom; plaque includes three soldiers wearing helmets and holding up sword-like weapons.
Brass palace plaque identified as coming from the Benin Kingdom; plaque includes three soldiers with helmets with centralized figure holding a pitch-fork like weapon.
Brass Oba spiritual figure; two piece sculpture embellisehed with faces and limbs positioned at various locations throughout.
Beaded Oba cape which fits loosely over shoulders and falls below the waist. Both front and back are embellisHed with colored beads forming a pattern of figures. Cape is paired with 2020.003.053.
Beaded textile Oba crown with three dimensional beaded figures throughout; long strings of beads descend from the lower edge of crown. Crown goes with robe, 2020.003.054.
Painted wood female figure breast feeding. Female is adorned with conical headdress extending from foreward to figure's back.
House post with male figure on horseback and seated female figure
Highly stylized house post with male figure on horseback and seated female figure.
Epa mask of female figure with Ibeji twins
Carved wood Epa mask of female figure flanked with Ibeji twins. The multicolored mask includes a base with cut out facial features allowing access when worn as a mask.
Carved metal sculpture extending into a snake form with a small human-like figure at base.
Carved wood figure of a standing male figure with elongated facial features.
Standing wood figure with extended belly button. Figure is wearing what appears a dark mask covering top portion of their face; palms are turned up.
Wood female figure mounted on black base. Carved figure has slightly bent arms and wears a mask with a pointed headdress etched with a vertical pattern.
Carved male figure standing mounted on black platform; figure is looking forward, arms bent at elbows; white residue appears on figure.
Standing female figure mounted on stepped black base; carved wood figure has elongated face with pointed head and extended belly button.
Vintage wool blanket woven in geometric patterns of browns, black and cream; fringe attached at ends.
Metal sword with shilled case in black leather and fringe.
Metal sword (a) in sheath (b) which has been woven into vertically placed stripes of white and black. Leather fringe hangs from sheath.
Brass sword housed in a leather case with triangular pattern of black and white.
Masquerade mask with raffia and shells
Purplish masquerade mask with raffia and shells; mask is woven in different styles with decorative circles indicating mouth and eyes.
Masquerade mask with raffia and shells; top of head is adorned with curvilinear crown embellished with blue and yellow beads.
Mazi maternity figure with body scarification
Wood Mazi maternity figure seated on a stool breast feeding an infant clenched between her knees.
Guinea-Bissau, Bidjogo people
Painted wood helmet mask with horns
Helmet mask with horns at left and right; triangular black form extends from forehead thru to snout of animal figure.
Helmet mask with horns at left and right; triangular white form extends from forehead thru snout of animal figure.
Carved wood female torso mounted on top of a vertical stand; female is clutching her breasts and is wearing a crown.
Painted wood bull helmet mask with horns
Painted wood bull helmet mask with horns extending from left and right of face. Black triangle positioned between eyes.
Timba drum with and two female figures and horse
Timba drum mounted on a female figure with horse; multicolored in reds and greens; drum is stretched with animal hide.
Wood, paint, animal hide, fabric and rope
Nimba ceremonial drum positioned atop a female who is kneeling and painted red.
Male figure with artiuclated face and beak-like nose identified as a Baga which are a West African ethnic group who live in the southern swampy lands of Guinea Atlantic coastline. Typically rural and known for their agricultural successes, particularly with rice farming, the Baga people speak a language of the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo family. They are also known for their historic animist pieces of artwork. Known for their beauty and sophistication, these figures have been displayed and held at many major museums of the world. After independence, a totalitarian Marxist government took over Guinea in 1958. Its program of "demystification" lasted till 1984, destroying the traditional beliefs and ritual arts of the Baga people.
Figure of Esi Mansa mother and child
Ceramic figure of an Esi Mansa mother breast feeding an infant These maternity figures, are placed in cult shrines and are thought to enhance the fertility of women, give support during birth and ensure welfare and sufficient nourishment.
Cote d'Ivoire, Senufo people
Standing male figure: Poro Rhythm Pounder
Carved wood male Pombia 'rhythm-pounder' figure is used to commemorate recently deceased Poro elders during funerals, and to ensure their safe passage into the land of ancestors. This figure presents with elongated features and stands on a circular base reflecting self-control and containment, ideal behaviors and attributes of inner beauty rather than physical appearance. Paired female and male rhythm pounders were principally used during funerals. As the corpse was carried to the burial ground, elders would pound on the ground with the figures, ritually purifying the pathway for the deceased and calling ancestral spirits. Paired figures are emblems of marriage but may represent twins or primordial founding ancestors. Rhythm pounders are owned by a small subgroup of artisans, the Celibele, who make a living as rope makers and tanners.
Standing female figure: Poro Rhythm Pounder
Carved wood female Pombia 'rhythm-pounder' figure is used to commemorate recently deceased Poro elders during funerals, and to ensure their safe passage into the land of ancestors. This figure presents with elongated features and stands on a circular base reflecting self-control and containment, ideal behaviors and attributes of inner beauty rather than physical appearance. Paired female and male rhythm pounders were principally used during funerals. As the corpse was carried to the burial ground, elders would pound on the ground with the figures, ritually purifying the pathway for the deceased and calling ancestral spirits. Paired figures are emblems of marriage but may represent twins or primordial founding ancestors. Rhythm pounders are owned by a small subgroup of artisans, the Celibele, who make a living as rope makers and tanners.
Female figure: Poro Rhythm Pounder
Elongated carved wood female figure reflecting self-control and containment, ideal behaviors and attributes of inner beauty rather than physical appearance. Paired female and male rhythm pounders were principally used during funerals. As the corpse was carried to the burial ground, elders would pound on the ground with the figures, ritually purifying the pathway for the deceased and calling ancestral spirits. Paired figures are emblems of marriage but may represent twins or primordial founding ancestors. Rhythm pounders are owned by a small subgroup of artisans, the Celibele, who make a living as rope makers and tanners.
Cote d'Ivoire, Baule people
Female figure with elaborate headdress
Female figure standing and mounted on a clear plastic base. Female is highly polished wood wearing an elaborate headdress and ringed neck extending its height.
Carved wood standing female figure on bent knees.
Liberia, Kulango people
Bronze statue of a primordial male; figure appears to be seated with a triangular face; block -like legs and arms.
Bronze statue of a primordial female; figure appears to be seated with a triangular face; block -like legs and arms.
Standing wood male figure with beard
Standing wood figure with bent knees and beard.
Standing male figure identified as Border Patrol mounted on a black base. Male is wearing a red cap and red pants with yellow shirt with green accents.
Carved wood spoon with face like image at end of handle.
Carved wood "mouse oracle" with a single seated figure positioned on lid. Inside this receptacle, a device composed of sticks records the movements of mice as signs that reveal insights into matters of importance. Mouse divination is probably of Guro origin and is one of several divination techniques used in Baule society; it is practiced in eastern and central Ce d'Ivoire by Agni-speaking peoples, which include the Guro and Yaure. Regional oral traditions recount that in the distant past mice could speak. At that time they lived in the forest with the earth spirits (asye usu) until a spiritual specialist carried them into the village to be kept in captivity. Their natural proximity to the earth's surface and their ability to burrow beneath it permit mice to gain intimate access to the omniscient asye usu and the ancestors, thus enabling them to foretell events.
Ancestral couple: male figure with facial and body scarification
Carved wood male figure standing with bent knees. Male is holding his mid-section and appears to have body scarification.
Ancestral couple: female figure with facial and body scarification
Carved wood female figure standing on a wood base with bent knees grasping her mid section which encloses a circular motif; figure appears to have body scarification.
Standing male figure with beard, bended knees and facial scarification
Carved wood male figure kneeling on circular base with facial scarification; both arms are missing below shoulder.
Cote d'Ivoire, Baule people, Africa
Carved wood seated figure wearing a mask extending to the back of the head; figure is pulling on beard with both hands.
Mask with horn and facial scarification
Carved wood mask with facial scarification and two horns extending from top of head.
Mask with facial scarificaton and horns
Carved wood mask with facial scarification and small horns extending from upper left and right; a carved curvilinear crown extends across the top of the mask.
Mask with facial scarifications, braided hair and pointed horn
Carved wood mask with facial scarifications, braided hair and horn curled and pointed toward the face.
Mask with multiple facial scarifications
Carved wood mask with raised plaited hair and vertical facial scarfications thoughout cheeks.
Mask with plaited hair and facial scarifications
Wood facial mask with plaited hairand facial scarifications throughout cheeks.
Mask with plaited hair and facial scarification
Wood face mask with plaited hair and facial scarfication throughout checks.
Black painted wood face mask with black horns and red encircled eyes.
Red painted wood fask mask with black encircled eyes.
Burkina Faso, Mossi people
Female figure with scarifications
Wood female figure with scarifications; figure stands with arms at sides positioned downward and is attached to a painted black base.
Mask: painted wood with braided rope and fabric
Cap-like mask with painted wood and braided rope extending from lower edge; painted wood animal head positioned on top with striped horns.
Heavily polished carved wood mask with metal incrustrations; facial figure includes pointed chin, open mouth and metal hoop earrings.
Brass ancestral statue mounted on black stand; statue includes elongated figure with curvilinear headdress and small abbreviated female figures positioned around upper torso.
gourd, leather, beads, metal, button, string, wire
Oblong gourd with lid attatched by leather strap.
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jospeh R. Ciaramella
Zuko of Birifor Tcha, No. Ghana, Africa
Africa, Zanzibar or Tanganyika
Bakuba Hat Worn by Aristocracy of Royal Family
basketry of leather, raffia, berge, w/ fringe
Yoruba, Nigeria, Ekiti Region
Brass armlet with multiple surface decoartion.
Male figure with two animal forms springing from sides of head holds two staffs across chest.
In form of seated figure holding a staff in each hand and wearing a headdress topped with an umbrella.
Knife: iron, leather Scabbard: leather, beadwork