Tribal & Folk Art

Showing 229–234 of 234 results

  • Vintage Wood Tibetan Lama Mask, China (16936B-IRK) $295

    $295.00
    H: 14.75”  W: 7.75”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This well carved vintage Cham dance mask is an individualized yet generic Tibetan lama used in a public dance performed to educate the masses, promote ethical and moral practices and scare away negative spirits. Although depicting a Tibetan lama, it may have been made in China or Nepal where it was purchased. Depicted with realistic, intense yet reassuring features in a slender face with open mouth, large eyes, elongated ears and animal hair for his mustache, beard and ears, his alert angular eyebrows, soft lips and cheeks are highlighted with pigmentation. Portrayed as a wise man in deep concentration, his headdress is significantly painted in red and yellow associated with powerful rituals and symbolizes wisdom and compassion. It is in excellent condition with minor signs of wear consistent with age and use.

  • Vintage Woven Kuba Cloth Square, Africa, Republic of Congo (3781A-FLK) $95

    $95.00
    H: 18″  W: 18″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    Woven from strands of raffia palm leaves, this vintage Kuba cloth reflects the traditional fabric traditions of the Kuba people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a typically bordered square with rough textural surfaces interspersed with repeated geometric patterns and embellished with sophisticated embroidered, applique and patchwork linear designs of interlocking meandering patterns of vegetable dye shades of dark brown and ivory in a natural flat-weave pattern framed with tufted-cut pile raffia and applique.

     

     

  • Vintage Woven Kuba Textile, Africa, Republic of Congo (3781B-FLK) $95

    $95.00
    H: 14″    W: 21 ”      | FREE SHIPPING!

    Woven from strands of raffia palm leaves, this vintage Kuba cloth reflects the traditional fabric traditions of the Kuba people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a typically bordered square with rough textural surfaces interspersed with repeated geometric patterns and embellished with sophisticated embroidered, applique and patchwork linear designs of interlocking meandering patterns of vegetable dye shades of dark brown and ivory in a natural flat-weave pattern framed with tufted-cut pile raffia and applique.

     

  • Vintage Yoruba Cowrie Shell Head Shrine, Africa, Nigeria (1657BSK) $785

    $785.00
    H:15 ”  W: 9 ”  D: 9 ” | SHIPPING INFORMATION REQUIRED contact us at 213-568-3030

    This vintage handmade crown-like cowry shell-covered cylindrical “crown” called an ile ori and is a mixed-media cult of the head shrine to honor the head among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Never meant to be worn, it is round, divided into sections and has four upward pointed curving triangular panels leaning inward and set in a sea of arranged cowries. The flat-topped symbolic crown is made with a wide rectangular cutout for viewing. As it is handmade, the size, placement and tones of the cowries may vary, but the design is very impressive.  This headdress was included in the San Francisco International Airport, “Crowning Achievements” exhibition in April-August, 1994. The headdress is in good shape with a dark patina showing age and use, some leather bindings lifting, minor insect damage to the fabric, scrapes on the leather and some missing cowry shells. It comes with a Lucite stand.

     

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  • Vintage Yoruba Ere Ibeji with High Round Hat, Nigeria (1963BHA) $385

    $465.00
    H: 7.125″  W: 2.125″  D: 2.25″ | Free Shipping!

    This small finely carved hardwood has distinctive Yoruba Ibeji features. The elongated head is flat with full lips, thick eyelids, incised lashes, flat prominent ears and the nose and chin are centered with cheeks and eyes on opposite sides of a thin conical head. A stylized coiffure divides each side into sections with plaited linear designs and scarifications appear across his face and often on his body. The strong stance with hands on his hips is supported by massive legs low to the ground, his member is visible, the buttocks jut outward and both are signs of his fertility and power as are his thick rounded shoulders and arms.

  • Vintage Yoruba Ere Ibeji with Thick Sandals, Nigeria (1967LAE) $485

    $485.00
    H: 9.5″  W: 3.25″  D: 3″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This Nigerian tribal carving displays the distinctive Yoruba artistic and cultural conventions of Ere Ibeji images.  It is symmetrical and restrained with an oversized and elongated conical-shaped head about a third of the figure’s body. He has characteristic round bulging eyes with thick eyelids, triangular incised lashes, flared nostrils, prominent ears, full smiling lips and scarification on each cheek. His coiffure is detailed with parallel vertical plaits on both sides. The necklace with large triangular pendants covers his chest and back, and his covered genitals and triangular shaped buttocks are signs of his fertility. His power is reinforced by short, massive legs, unusually wide arms and strong shoulders, and his remarkably high thick sandals make him appear taller and add to the uniqueness of this impressive vintage piece.

     

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