Tribal Art

The tribal art of the Byeri cult is illustrated by various anthropomorphic sculptures acting as "guardians" and embodying the ancestor. This sculpted figure, intended to be introduced into a reliquary basket by the peduncle, has a prognathic jawbone in which a pout emerges. The amplitude of the pelvis and thighs contrasts with the rest of the morphology. Fanned fingers are joined in front of the torso. Extended in the nape of a ponytail, voluminous shells complete the metallic ornaments. Black oiled patina, semi-matte.
The boxes containing the relics of illustrious ancestors were guarded by the oldest man in the village, the "esa". Surmounted by a statue or a head that acted as guardian of the "byeri" boxes, they were supposed to deflect evil influences. They were also used ...

Witnesses to the traditions of the Hopi Indian peoples of Arizona, the sculpted Katsinam (sing. Kachina) objects are expressed during traditional dances accompanying the annual festivals in favor of the rain. Traditional Kachina dolls are, for the Amerindian Pueblo group (Hopi, Zuni, Tewa Village, Acoma Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo), educational tools offered to children at the end of ritual celebrations. These statuettes, embodying a great diversity of spirits, represent the katchina dancers and the colors are associated with the cardinal points.
The patina is matte and velvety, minor abrasions, restoration on one foot.

French African art collection.
Three male figures with Nimba's heads support this spectacular, conical baga drum, adorned with a well-preserved polychromy. The skin of the drum, stretched and held by ropes and large studs, has many traces of use. Called timba by the Baga, matimbo by the Pokur and The Nalu, this musical instrument was played by men with chopsticks during ceremonial rituals.
Mêlés aux Nalu and Landuman , the Baga live along the coasts of Guinea-Bissau in areas of swamps flooded six months a year. These Baga groups based on the coast and living from rice farming are made up of seven subgroups, including the Baga Kalum, Bulongic, Baga sitem, Baga Mandori, etc. They believe in a creative god called Nagu, Naku, which they do not represent, and which is accompanied ...

The Mangbetu statues probably represent ancestors of the clan. They display incisions in connection with the body paintings and the scarifications of the group, comparable to those of the Asua pygmies with whom the tribe maintained relations. These reasons varied according to the circumstances. The fan hairstyle was worn by the Mangbetu: from an early age, children suffered compression of the cranial box by means of raffia ties. Later, the Mangbetu would "knit" their hair on wicker strands and apply a headband to the forehead in order to extract the hair and produce that particular headdress which accentuates the elongation of the head. The ancients call these figures of ancestors stored out of sight and comparable to those belonging to their secret society nebeli beli.
Shiny dark ...

Small mortar for spices, pigments, or therapeutic ingredients. The object is carved with different faces that take up the features of the traditional masks of the group. Golden brown satin patina. Slight residue of kaolin.
The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern have settled on the banks of the Kasai downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of the neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba, and Salempasu have been imprinted on their extensive tribal art sculpture. Within this diversity the Mbuya masks, realistic ,produced every ten years, have a festive function, and embody different characters, including the chief, the diviner and his wife, the prostitute, the possessed, etc.... The masks of initiation and those of power, the ...

Ancient African mask bakrogui, Simogui, or Angbaï, of the Toma of Guinea, relating to the ancestors. This mask intended to impress is equipped with a thick skin hood, lined with various elements, mirrors, cowries. It is extended by a heavy cape made of embroidered textile and velvet with colored patterns, edged with red fabric. Metal bells adorn the contours of the mask. Only members of the Poro were allowed to contemplate the bakrogui mask.
The Toma of Guinea, called Loma in Liberia, live within the forest, at high altitude. They are renowned for their landai board masks intended to enliven the initiation rites of the poro association that structures their society, and which represent spirits of the bush. As soon as the landai mask appeared, the initiates would go to the ...

This Baule African mask, a portrait mask or ndoma, has many careful details illustrating Baule refinement. It is also embellished with fine scarifications named " ngole". Dark brown glossy surface.
Acquired at the Hotel des Ventes Giraudeau, ex. Parisian private collection.
Height on base: 39 cm.
Splits.
These portrait masks of the Baule, ndoma , which are part of one of the oldest Baule artistic traditions and frequently represent an idealized character, have the particularity of appearing at the end of ceremonies of entertainment dances.These are named, according to the regions, bedwo , ngblo , mblo , adjussu , etc.... Each of these masks differ in hairstyles, placement and choice of scarification. They perform during danced events accompanied by ...

This large carved seat where the seat rests on the back of an aquine figure forms a rare piece. It is embellished with large polychrome motifs. Patina glossed by use on the supporting areas, some cracks of desication.
Mêlés aux Nalu and Landuman , the Baga live along the coasts of Guinea-Bissau in areas of swamps flooded six months a year. These Baga groups based on the coast and living from rice farming are made up of seven subgroups, including the Baga Kalum, Bulongic, Baga sitem, Baga Mandori, etc. They believe in a creative god called Nagu, Naku, which they do not represent, and which is accompanied by a male spirit whose name is Somtup. Apart from the famous Nimba mask, they have created a powerful mask, hybrid snake, gazelle, chameleon and crocodile, with the aim of ...

This African statuette generally called "colon" , forms, for the Baoulé, an idealized, individual image of the celestial spouse. Its features were carved on the indications of the diviner for his client in an attempt to remedy various problems.

Abraded polychrome patina. Desication crack.
Two types of statues are produced by the baoulé in the ritual context: TheWaka-Sona statues, "being of wood" in Baoulé, evoke a assié oussou, being of the earth. They are one of a type of statues intended to be used as medium tools by Komien soothsayers, the latter being selected by the asye usu spirits in order to communicate revelations from beyond. The second type of statues, made according to the indications of the diviner, are the spouses of the beyond, masculine, the ...

The polychrome mask is surmounted by a basketwork structure draped in textile painted with geometric patterns. This headdress ends in four lobes arranged in a corolla. A handle, concealed by the thick raffia adornment, allows you to carry everything.
Neighbors of the Yaka and the Kongo in the west of the former Zaire, the Zombo fear, like the Kongo clans, the god named Nzambi. Their diviners use fetishes similar to those of the Kongo, the ceremonies associated with the initiation rites, however, stem from Yaka traditions. Hierarchical and authoritarian, made up of formidable warriors, Yaka society was governed by lineage leaders with the right to life and death over their subjects. Hunting and the prestige that results from it are nowadays an opportunity for the Yaka to ...

Canadian African Tribal Art Collection.
Baga religious practices and African art.
The Baga use various crest masks in the image of young girls, the tiyambo evoking a young puberty and the yombifissa or "beautiful hair". These masks are often escorted by women singing songs in susu, on the occasion of harvests, weddings, visits of dignitaries.

Dark oiled patina, abrasions of use and cracks.
Native restorations.
Mixed with the Nalu and the Landuman, the Baga live along the coasts of Guinea-Bissau in areas of swamps flooded six months a year . They believe in a creator god called Nagu , Naku , whom they do not represent, and who is accompanied by a male spirit one of whose names is Topup . Apart from the famous Nimba mask, they created a powerful ...