Our catalogue > Culture: Tribal

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4196

Three Solid Copper Mossi African Hairpins

Mossi People, Burkina Faso
19th century

7.5-9cm

Provenance

Private collection, London.

5560

Rectangular Yoruba Divination Board (Opon Ifa)

Yoruba People, Nigeria
19th-early 20th century

width: 40cm; length: 27cm and thickness: 2cm

Provenance

UK art market

4755

Unusual Massim Carved, Wooden Lime Spatula Shaped as a Hornbill

Massim People, Tobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
early 20th century

length: 38.3cm

Provenance

UK art market

4824

Congo Woven Rattan Comb

Teke People, Congo
19th century

height: 16.2cm, width: 5.7cm

Provenance

old, private UK collection.

3933

Dayak Man’s Ear Ornament (Sabau) of Carved Hornbill Casque (Beak)

Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
19th-early 20th century

height: 4.6cm, length: 10cm, width: 4.2cm, weight: 26.36g

Provenance

Acquired in the UK, from the estate collection of Dr George Yuille Caldwell (1924-2016). Dr Caldwell, an English-born physician moved to Singapore in the 1950s, from where he built up a collection of mostly Borneo-related textiles and other ethnographica.

4462

Congo Nine Copper ‘X’ Currency Crosses

Luba & Yeke People, Katanga Province, Congo
19th century

typical diameter of a cross: 22.5cm Note: Each of these has a custom-made stand - each can be sold separately, or as part of a group.

Provenance

private collection, UK

4274

Woman’s Iron Pubic Cover (Cache Sexe)

Kirdi and Matakam People, North Cameroon
19th-early 20th century

length: 37.5cm

Provenance

private collection, UK

3944

Pair of Borneo Man’s Solid Brass Spiral Ear Ornaments

Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo
19th century

diameter: 2cm, combined weight: 72g

Provenance

Acquired in the UK, from the estate collection of Dr George Yuille Caldwell (1924-2016). Dr Caldwell, an English-born physician moved to Singapore in the 1950s, from where he built up a collection of mostly Borneo-related textiles and other ethnographica.

3104

Pair of Yoruba Bronze Ogboni Staves

Yoruba People, Nigeria
19th century

heights: 22cm, combined wight: 881g

Provenance

acquired from the estate of Dr Peter Sharratt (d. 2014). Sharratt was a linguist and lecturer in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures at the University of Edinburgh who published on Renaissance French sculpture. In his private life, he was an avid collector of tribal art, building up his collection over fifty years. During that time, he bought from UK dealers, collectors and auction houses.

944

Yoruba Gelede Dance Headdress

Yoruba People, Nigeria
circa 1940

height: 34cm, length: 22cm, width: 27cm

Provenance

UK art market, formerly in an Oxford collection.

846

Bamana Wooden Door Lock (Konbalabala)

Bamana people, Mali
circa 1920

height: 45.5cm, width: 37cm

Provenance

From a private UK collection. Acquired from Christie’s, 'Tribal Art', June 24, 1996, London, lot 67.

4516

Carved Wooden Prestige Sceptre

Ovimbundu People, Angola
19th century

length: 55cm

Provenance

UK art market

4331

Himalayan Carved Wooden Mask

Himalayan India - Northern Bengal or Himchal Pradesh
18th-19th century

height: 22cm, width: 13.6cm

Provenance

UK art market

4259

Naga Bead & Bone Belt or Girdle

Naga People, India/Burma
19th century

length (approx): 67cm, width: 15.5cm, weight: 517g

Provenance

private collection, London.

4279

Chief’s Bronze ‘Tiered’ Anklet with Bells

Gio or Dan & Wee People, Liberia & Cote d’Ivoire
19th century

outside diameter: 11.5cm, inside diameter: 7.5cm x 8.5cm, height: 4.3cm, weight: 517g

Provenance

UK art market

4313

Eshu Dance Wrist Pendant

Yoruba People, Southern Egbado, Nigeria
19th century

height: 10.2cm

Provenance

private collection, London.

4314

Eshu Dance Wrist Pendant

Yoruba People, Southern Egbado, Nigeria
19th century

height: 8cm

Provenance

private collection, London.

4077

Shield with Gilded Metal Mounts (Tafa Gassa)

Ethiopia
19th century

diameter: 47cm, height (approx.): 20cm

Provenance

UK art market

4121

Carved Wooden Axe Handle or Sceptre Shaped as an Antelope

Tsonga or Zulu, South Africa or Zambia/Zaire
19th century

length: 52.5cm

Provenance

UK art market

3945

Pair of Man’s Solid Brass Spiral Ear Ornaments

Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo
19th century

diameter: 2.6cm, combined weight: 90g

Provenance

Acquired in the UK, from the estate collection of Dr George Yuille Caldwell (1924-2016). Dr Caldwell, an English-born physician moved to Singapore in the 1950s, from where he built up a collection of mostly Borneo-related textiles and other ethnographica.

3994

Nigerian Carved Wooden Maternity Figure, Lidded Bowl, possibly by the carver Agbonbiofe

Yoruba People, Nigeria
early 20th century

height: 48.5cm, depth: 22.5cm, width: 33.5cm

Provenance

UK art market, private collection, Germany

4046

Rare Cast Brass Necklace

Vere People, North-Eastern Nigeria & Cameroon
19th century

length: 69cm, weight: 1,303g

Provenance

UK art market

4047

Woman’s Brass & Beaded Headdress & Ear Ornament Set

Kikuyu People, Kenya
early 20th century

diameter of each spiral : 8.8cm; length of headdress: 38cm, total weight: 325g

Provenance

UK art market

3890

Yoruba Janus-Headed Shango Dancing Wand

Yoruba People, Nigeria
19th century

length: 31.5cm

Provenance

UK art market

3894

Nigerian Carved & Painted Wooden Figurative Comb

Nigeria
late 19th-early 20th century

length: 23cm, width: 8cm

Provenance

UK art market

3895

Ashanti Carved Wooden Fertility Doll (Akuaba)

Ashanti/Asante People, Ghana
19th century

height: 27.3cm, width: 11.5cm

Provenance

UK art market; the base with an old label for 'Ratton, Paris'.

3391

Aboriginal Pineapple Pandanus Head Battle Club

Central Queensland, Australia
early 20th century

length: 72.5cm, weight: 541g

Provenance

UK art market

3416

Fine Zulu (or similar) Knobkerrie Dance Club

Zulu People or similar, Southern Africa
19th century

length: 43.5cm

Provenance

UK art market

3108

Yoruba Shango Oshe Dance Wand

Yoruba People, Egbado Tribe, Igan Okoto, Nigeria
circa 1900

length: approximately 25cm, width: approximately 6cm

Provenance

acquired from the estate of Dr Peter Sharratt (d. 2014). Sharratt was a linguist and lecturer in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures at the University of Edinburgh who published on Renaissance French sculpture. In his private life, he was an avid collector of tribal art, building up his collection over fifty years. During that time, he bought from UK dealers, collectors and auction houses.

3115

Fine, Carved Wooden Baule Catapult

Baule People, Ivory Coast
probably 19th century

height (not including stand): 16cm, width: 6.5cm

Provenance

acquired from the estate of Dr Peter Sharratt (d. 2014). Sharratt was a linguist and lecturer in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures at the University of Edinburgh who published on Renaissance French sculpture. In his private life, he was an avid collector of tribal art, building up his collection over fifty years. During that time, he bought from UK dealers, collectors and auction houses.

3119

Pair of Yoruba Ceremonial Ogboni Staffs

Yoruba People, Ogboni Society, Nigeria
early to mid-20th century

height: approximately (female) 44cm, (male) 45cm

Provenance

UK art market

3000

Congo Chief’s Axe-Knife

Nsapo & Wongo Peoples, Congo
19th-early 20th century

length: 39cm, width: 22.5cm

Provenance

UK art market

3091

Rare Pair of Ijebu-Yoruba Bronze Ceremonial Anklets

Nigeria
18th century

diameter: 19cm

Provenance

private collection, Isle of Wight, UK.

3107

Yoruba Eshu Dance Wand

Yoruba People, Egba Tribe, Abeokuta, Nigeria
late 19th century

height: approximately 25cm, width: approximately 6cm

Provenance

acquired from the estate of Dr Peter Sharratt (d. 2014). Sharratt was a linguist and lecturer in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures at the University of Edinburgh who published on Renaissance French sculpture. In his private life, he was an avid collector of tribal art, building up his collection over fifty years. During that time, he bought from UK dealers, collectors and auction houses.

2850

Cast Brass Pendant & Brass Bead Necklace

Asante/Ashanti, Ghana, West Africa
early 20th century

length of pendant: 12.5cm, length of chain: 66cm, weight: 193g

Provenance

UK art market

2863

Fine Yoruba Male Ibeji Figure (Ere Ibeji)

Oyo-Yoruba People, Oyo Region, Nigeria
late 19th century

height: 32cm, diameter of the base: approximately 8cm

Provenance

UK art market

2938

Local Ashanti King’s Asipim Chair

Ashanti (Asante) People, Ghana
late 19th century

height: 72cm, depth: 44cm, width: 40cm

Provenance

private collection, UK

2940

Fijian Throwing Club (I Ula Tavatava)

Fiji
18th-early 19th century

length: 42cm

Provenance

UK art market; private UK collection.

2992

Rare Massim Double Pedestal Cup with Spirit Figures

Massim People, Trobiand Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea
20th century

height: 70.5cm, diameter of bowl: 20.5cm

Provenance

private collection, UK

2746

Rare Solomon Islands Ceremonial Child’s Dance Wand or Staff (Napa)

Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands
circa 1900

length: 75.5cm

Provenance

UK art market

2449

Ifugao Carved Wooden Ladle or Dipper

Kalanguya People, Southern Ifugao, Philippines
early 20th century

length: 24.5cm

Provenance

Scottish art market

2421

Yoruba Maternity Figural Offering Bowl

Yoruba People, Nigeria
before 1938-39

height: 64cm

Provenance

Collected by the artist Donald Friend in Nigeria, 1938

2181

Life-sized Sepik Ancestor Figure

Sepik Region, New Guinea
late 19th century

height: 165cm

Provenance

Francis de Sales McHugh Collection, collected by de Sales McHugh in the first half of the 20th century.

2184

Sepik Kominimung Shield

Pora Pora or Bien River, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea
first half of the 20th century

height: 117cm, width: 46cm

Provenance

Francis de Sales McHugh Collection, and thence by descent, collected by de Sales McHugh in the first half of the 20th century.

2204

Yoruba Ibeji Figure (Ere Ibeji)

Yoruba People, Oyo Sub-group, Erin Region, Nigeria
circa 1920

height: 29cm

Provenance

UK art market.

2218

Rare Yoruba Carved Wooden Processional Staff

Yoruba People, Nigeria
19th-early 20th century

length: 108cm

Provenance

private collection, London; and previously, a private European collection.

2096

Very Fine Man’s Woven Comb (Faa)

Kwaio People, Malaita, Solomon Islands
19th or early 20th century

height: 20cm, width: 5.5cm

Provenance

UK art market

1897

Kuba Carved Wooden ‘Basket’ Camwood Powder Bowl & Cover

Kuba People, Congo
19th century

height: 5.5cm, diameter: 17cm

Provenance

UK art market

1898

Carved Wooden Camwood Powder Box

Kuba People, Congo
19th century

length: 23.8cm, height: 6.6cm, width: 9.4cm

Provenance

Obtained by the previous owner at Sotheby's London, 'Tribal Art', December 3, 1984.

1984

Pair of New Guinea Cone-Shell Ear Ornaments, dated 1859

New Guinea
collected in 1859

maximum diameter of each: 7cm

Provenance

UK art market; private collection, UK.

2032

Yoruba Carved Wooden Maternity Figure & Bowl, possibly by the carver Agbonbiofe

Yoruba People, Nigeria
circa 1920

height: 45cm, depth: 27cm

Provenance

UK art market

1481

Brass Bird-shaped Pipe

Cameroon
early 20th century

length: 48cm

1804

Large Jorai Ironwood Ancestor Figure

Jorai People, Central Highlands, Vietnam
19th century

height: 114cm

Provenance

Benneton Collection, France

1226

Large Engraved Brass Bowl & Cover

(Islamic) Nupe People, Nigeria
19th century

height: 25cm, diameter: 26cm, weight: 1,116g

Provenance

UK art market

1032

Aboriginal Mulga Wood Spear Thrower (Woomera)

Aboriginal People, Central Australia
circa 1940

height: 77cm, width: 11cm

Provenance

UK art market

1111

Batak Raja’s Brass Tobacco Pipe (Tulpang)

Toba Batak, North Sumatra, Indonesia
19th century

length: 76cm

Provenance

Christie's, The Trevor Barton Collection.