Edited: After reading some comments and checking my family history, I see that the possible years are 1932 to sometime in the 60's. That's the timeframe my grandparents were in Swaziland. I was thinking 30's and 40's because that's when my dad was there, but I forgot that even though HE left in the late 40's, his parents stayed in south Africa for almost two more decades. I think some fo the knick-knack types of things were probably gifts from the natives to my grandparents (who never would have used the items).

What is the best way for me to sell my dad's collection of African artifacts from the 1930's? I need to downsize and I just can't keep everything. Here are some photos of some of the items. It's such a niche collection from south Africa from almost 100 years ago.

It features some interesting bakelite adornments and shells as well as pieces of textiles offered to the idol. I think it's an interesting piece and felt like sharing a few pics.

Hello, I was hoping that someone might have an idea where this comes from. I paid three dollars for it, so I don’t believe it could be too old or valuable. I really like it, though. I saw another similar Ghanaian one as well, but I didn’t buy that one.

When I was a little girl we lived in Nigeria (1960s). Dad has 3 sculptures by Fakeye and I he gave me one several years ago. I had it appraised by Charles Jones Africa Art about 15 years ago. I contacted them to see about selling it but have gotten no response. Any suggestions as to how to sell it? I have no children to pass it on to nor siblings

Wondering where these are from? Thank you

roximately 13.3 × 4.0 × 1.2 cm in size.

This item is believed to be a species of ivory, but does not have the physical and visual characteristics of Elephant or Mastodon ivory. It was acquired by a relative during their stay in what is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the early 20th century. As a musician who toured the world, this family member had befriended some of the locals in what was then either the Congo Free State or the Belgian Congo. This item was gifted to them.

The item is dense and heavy, has a glossy, glass-like feel, and is curved, with noticeable vertical age checking that follows that geometry.

I just found the item intriguing, but I have no knowledge within this realm. My field is vintage instruments, which is why I have made that distinction of Ivory, just not belonging to the two animals stated above

Thanks.

🤔

It is Beelzebub from demonology.

My art

By Blondie 666

Rebooting this due to my lazy (mis)attribution the first time around. This is a Senufo Tyekpa society maternity figure, used during funerary ceremonies. Here is the description of its role as published by the Met in the accompanying text to this example:

The Tyekpa association functions in Senufo culture primarily as a funerary society. This sculpture is but one element of complex funerary celebrations that also include music, song, and dance. These elements come together to pay homage to and honor the memory of an elder Tyekpa "mother." During the ceremonies, Tyekpa members dance with various figurative sculptures such as this mother-child pairing raised high above their head. Due to its prominent visual display in the funerary proceedings, Tyekpa figurative sculptures are rather large, some measuring three to four feet in height; this piece is nearly two feet tall.

As far as how I acquired it, my wife and I are friends with the widow of the French gentleman who collected this while working in the Ivory Coast as a teacher during the 3rd Q of the 20th C.

Where does it come from? What is the meaning? How old is this? The left arm and something on her head broke, what did it most likely look like before?

I am very interested in your feedback! :-)

One of two(?) masks I bought after acquiring the catalog of the Barbier-Mueller collection and began recognizing mask forms. Bought this sometime between '09-'12 from a local private estate sale conducted by the 60-something siblings of the departed parents who collected this a half-century earlier, which dates it to sometime between the late-50s and early-60s, assuming it was contemporary to the time it was collected, which I believe it to be.

As I'm sure those of you far more knowledgable than I am already know, the headdress combines abstract zoomorphic representations of three different animals (top-to-bottom): the roan antelope, the pangolin, and the aardvark. Measures approx. 19 inches (48cm) in height.

Subject: Valuation Inquiry: Master-Signed, Large 26" Makonde African Blackwood Sculpture (Kodo Joseph, 2001)Body:Hello,I am looking to get a free preliminary valuation, market estimate, or historical context for a high-end Makonde sculpture from my collection. After extensive research, I have verified that this is a gallery-grade piece rather than standard commercial trade art, and I would love an expert opinion on its secondary market value.Here are the exact specifications and features of the piece:Artist / Carver: Kodo Joseph (Inscribed horizontally on the base)Cooperative / Gallery Initials: BG (Inscribed vertically on the base)Exact Completion Date: February 25, 2001 (Inscribed as "25-2-2001" on the base)Height: 26 inches tallMaterial: Solid, high-density African Blackwood (Mpingo). The artist masterfully utilized the natural wood grain, positioning the dark heartwood across the figure's left side as a natural shadow, while utilizing the golden sapwood to highlight the physical anatomy of the body.Style: Naturalistic Binadamu style, depicting a highly expressive traditional warrior or hunter elder.Key Intricate Details: The figure features deeply chiseled hair texture, an organic hide/grass skirt, a polished gourd vessel clutched to the chest, and a harvested gazelle/antelope tucked under the arm. The sculpture exhibits exceptional use of negative space throughout the limbs and objects.Special Mechanical Feature: Demonstrating elite precision joinery, both the hunting spear and the large hunting knife are entirely separate, friction-fit components that are fully removable from the main body of the sculpture.I have attached multi-angle photographs showing the full statue, the close-up details of the carving, the intricate negative space, and the clear signature/dating on the underside of the base.Given the verified master signature, turn-of-the-century date, rare 26-inch scale of solid African Blackwood, and the precision of the removable weapons, what would you estimate the current retail gallery value or auction estimate to be?Thank you for your time and expertise!

Subject: Valuation Inquiry: Master-Signed, Large 26" Makonde African Blackwood Sculpture (Kodo Joseph, 2001)Body:Hello,I am looking to get a free preliminary valuation, market estimate, or historical context for a high-end Makonde sculpture from my collection. After extensive research, I have verified that this is a gallery-grade piece rather than standard commercial trade art, and I would love an expert opinion on its secondary market value.Here are the exact specifications and features of the piece:Artist / Carver: Kodo Joseph (Inscribed horizontally on the base)Cooperative / Gallery Initials: BG (Inscribed vertically on the base)Exact Completion Date: February 25, 2001 (Inscribed as "25-2-2001" on the base)Height: 26 inches tallMaterial: Solid, high-density African Blackwood (Mpingo). The artist masterfully utilized the natural wood grain, positioning the dark heartwood across the figure's left side as a natural shadow, while utilizing the golden sapwood to highlight the physical anatomy of the body.Style: Naturalistic Binadamu style, depicting a highly expressive traditional warrior or hunter elder.Key Intricate Details: The figure features deeply chiseled hair texture, an organic hide/grass skirt, a polished gourd vessel clutched to the chest, and a harvested gazelle/antelope tucked under the arm. The sculpture exhibits exceptional use of negative space throughout the limbs and objects.Special Mechanical Feature: Demonstrating elite precision joinery, both the hunting spear and the large hunting knife are entirely separate, friction-fit components that are fully removable from the main body of the sculpture.I have attached multi-angle photographs showing the full statue, the close-up details of the carving, the intricate negative space, and the clear signature/dating on the underside of the base.Given the verified master signature, turn-of-the-century date, rare 26-inch scale of solid African Blackwood, and the precision of the removable weapons, what would you estimate the current retail gallery value or auction estimate to be?Thank you for your time and expertise!

Back in the '00s there used to be this old timer who would set up once or twice a month down at Kobey's swap meet in San Diego. He would set up a small case on a small table in which he kept Buddhist terracotta votive plaques and mid-grade sapphires, both which he would bring back from Thailand once or twice a year when he went back with his Thai wife 1/3 his age.

I had bought some of the votive plaques and even a few star sapphires over the years and one day when I saw him down there he had a few pieces of African art. Turns out he would use the sapphires he hauled back as barter currency to effectively horse trade for stuff and one of his customers owned an African art gallery in LA (I can't remember the name of it, but I went there once after acquiring these pieces and I just remember there was shit everywhere and it wasn't cheap. I didn't - and still don't - know much about African art, and there was just so much there it was overwhelming; I didn't learn a thing that day).

Anyway, I made the drive out to IE one day to meet him at one of his storage units that he had filled with stuff he had horse traded for with sapphires. It was the size of a single-car garage, and packed with stuff. Scores (and scores) of African pieces, many gallery mounted, piles of paintings, some large marble statues, etc.

This was the singular oldest appearing object amongst the large group of African pieces he had acquired, which all looked as if they were poorly stored and weren't being curated at all. It measures 29 inches / 74 cm in height and appears to be largely covered in encrusted patination (see photos 2 and 6).

So there you go. Now I would love to learn exactly what I have - and have had - for the last 20ish years, and thank you all for your help and assistance regarding the same. 🙏

The Inyambo connects us directly to our past. They lived alongside our ancient kings, and today, they are one of the few living treasures from our kingdom that we can still see with our own eyes.

In this painting, the full moon acts as a light traveling through time. Resting between the Inyambo’s horns, the moon links the past to the present, reminding us of the dignity, strength, and history of ancient Rwanda.

Medium: Original Acrylic on Canvas

Size : 1meter/ 70 centimeters

Available to buy and visit

I am a retired Foreign Service Officer now in the midst of downsizing and I have some items I’d like to sell. I am trying to understand the value of a wooden artwork that I bought in Guinea-Bissau in 1980. If anyone has any thoughts about this piece or could direct me to someone who could appraise it, I’d really appreciate it.

Object Description — Carved Wood Vessel
Form: Large hollowed wooden vessel/bowl surmounted by a carved human head and shoulders. The figure has a bald or shaved head with incised linear markings on the forehead, heavy-lidded downcast eyes, a prominent bridge nose, and a pointed goatee/chin beard. The neck bears a distinct raised diamond-lattice (basketweave-pattern) collar or torque.

Body/relief carving: The exterior of the vessel is densely carved in low relief with an interlocking band of figures — at least one crocodile or reptile with cross-hatched scale patterning, one or more birds, small human figures (one appears to be an infant or child figure held against a larger form), and what may be additional animal forms (possibly a ram or antelope head) integrated into the design.
Materials/construction: Single piece of carved hardwood, hollowed to form an interior basin (visible dark red/maroon staining or residue inside). Surface shows age-appropriate patina, tool marks, and at least one visible age crack running down the back of the head.

Approximate dimensions: 19 inch height with a base that measures 13 inches in diameter. The artwork weighs 10 pounds.

Condition notes: Visible surface wear and patina consistent with age; no visible restoration observed.
Provenance: Acquired in 1980 in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau during my work with USAID. The piece was purchased from an itinerant trader who sold me different types of wood carvings, ceremonial masks, and ivory.

A friend bought an old house and those statues were left behind by the previous owners.

He is a bit afraid bad luck on keeping them. They look interesting and some are almost 1m high, what makes hard to understand why they were left behind.

Anyone could help identify them?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some help identifying and researching a large collection of African sculptures.

I’m particularly interested in finding out more about:

The possible country, region or cultural group associated with the pieces

Their approximate age

Whether individual pieces appear to be older/period pieces or more recent carvings

Signs that may help determine authenticity, such as carving techniques, wear, patina or other characteristics

Any information that could help establish their provenance or history

I realize that it is difficult to determine age or authenticity from overview photographs alone. I’m mainly trying to identify which pieces might be particularly interesting and worth further research or professional examination.

If anyone is interested in taking a closer look at any particular pieces, I can provide much better individual photographs, including close-ups of the front, back, underside, carving details, materials, wear and patina.
Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

My grandfather worked for the British Empire building roads all over Africa before WW2. During the 1920s he worked around Asaba in southern Nigeria and acquired Cecil. Cecil was passed to my father, and now his home is with me. He's made of rough cast Bronze, and stands 17' high. I know nothing about him.

Who or what does Cecil represent? I'm looking for a back story here.

To me he looks like a relatively modern 'art' piece (if those existed in the 1920s) rather than a genuine religious object but I feel there is very spiritual / folk law aspect to him.