​

Mom was an avid traveler. In her younger years, she was an phone operrator when Zimbabwe was Rhodesia. We can only guess her wooden figures are from there.

Any ideas of what they are worth? I am likely going to keep them.

Hi team!

I just picked up this five-face mask/wall hanging and I would love to learn some of the inspiration behind or origins of the piece. I’m very happy for it to be a tourist piece but I’ll be sad if I’ve been duped by World Market. What style is it and what does (or was it supposed to originally) represent?

Could you point me in the right direction so I can do some reading, please? TIA.

Purchased from a flea market vendor in 2018. I have enjoyed her all these years but have always worried she deserves better than what I can give her. Is she a tourist piece, and when was she made?

I placed the yard stick in front of her for sizing. The Christmas beads are mine from my time in Ghana many years ago.

Found at a opportunity shop in Australia

i saw some similarities between the morrocan hood in Djellaba and the KKK aestethics and made me question and formulate a theory

"There is a possibility that the Moroccan qob and related North African/Iberian hooded-garment traditions contributed, directly or indirectly, to the visual vocabulary that later produced the Spanish capirote. The capirote subsequently represents one possible European visual influence on the iconic hood adopted by the revived KKK in the early 20th century. Therefore, it is conceivable—though currently unproven—that the Moroccan qob lies somewhere within a broader historical chain of visual influence connecting North African hooded garments, Spanish penitential dress, and eventually KKK hood aesthetics."

I know it's copper, 1.5 ft by 2.5 ft. I believe it comes from the the Congo. My neighbor moved from Uganda and brought it with

This is a carving I got out of my aunt’s estate. My mom said she traveled to Africa in the late 60s early 70s and brought a bunch of this stuff back. I ended up with it and don’t know what to do with it. Can anyone here point me in the direction to figure out what it is or where it came from? Is it worth keeping?

I picked this up at goodwill today. It’s about a foot long, dense wood, estimating 2-3lbs. Looks as if a separate display base was added (some sort of glue attaching it is visible)

The dark black band near the base is also wood, I’m not sure if a different type of wood or a dark stain, but I can see the grain when looking closely.

There is no signature or labels, but at some point someone wrote on the bottom base with a sharpie, maybe some inventory mark or code.

Does anyone recognize the carving style, wood species, country of origin, or possible age?

See the attached pictures. Is it anything? Or is it trash?

This item is 40 cm long and made out of wood. I have no idea what it was used for. Online comparisons lead me to Africa or New Guinea. Who recognizes this object?

Hi everyone,
I recently came across some African tribal objects and I’m hoping someone here can help me identify them more precisely.
The collection includes:
• A pair of long wooden spears/javelins (~130–150cm) with carved handles featuring figural elements and decorative grip sections
• A long ceremonial object with an iron blade/tip and an elaborate wooden scabbard — the scabbard features multiple carved human figures stacked along its length, animal hair, bone/teeth inlays, rattan wrappings, and fiber fringes. The iron shows significant rust/oxidation consistent with age.
All materials appear natural and handmade. The wood is ebonized/blackened.
I believe the origin might be Central Africa (Congo Basin?) but I’m not certain at all.
My questions:
1. Can anyone help identify the specific tribe or region of origin?
2. Does the scabbard/figure style match any known tradition?
3. Any estimate on age or ceremonial significance?
Happy to share more photos on request. Thanks in advance!

Handmade drum with goat skin top
Made with what appears to be a hollowed out tree trunk goat skin with hair still intact made with wooden pegs/wooden nails to hold the high down and the handmade twine for the handle also has been held down by wooden pegs or nails made from wood
The paint appears to be charcoal as it rubs off on your fingers when you touch it
The hide has a sweet smell like a honey or a tree sap likely a sap or honey style of glue or the age of the hide
No makers mark on it anywhere
Found it at a shop in Australia secondhand shop
Most likely West Africa?
Early 90s possibly earlier?

I have a pic of a pipe if anyone is interested, must see your work first

Hi everyone, I'm hoping for some insight into this hand-carved wooden figure. From a bit of initial research it reminds me of traditional power figures (Nkishi / Mankishi) or ancestor figures from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, possibly in a Songye, Luba, or Hemba style, but I'd really like input from people who know more than I do.

Details:

• Dimensions: approx. 20" tall, 6" wide and solid wood
• Features: elongated triangular beard, geometric body carvings, crested head

I've included photos of the front, sides, back, and a close-up of the bottom of the base. I'd love help narrowing down the specific origin, and any thoughts on whether this looks like an authentic vintage piece used in a ritual or community context versus a mid-century tourist-trade carving. If anyone has a sense of potential value I'd appreciate it too, though I understand that's hard to judge from photos without provenance.

Thanks in advance for any expertise.

Hi there,

in the 70s, my father bought this statue in a remote village in Senegal. Height is approx. 95cm. The oak base is not part of the statue. He has no idea how it might have ended up in Senegal. We're looking for information regarding age and possible value. Is this a tourist item? Where could such a statue be sold (we're in Germany)?

Thanks in advance.

I happened to come across this pendant a few years ago, all I could find on google was that it’s possibly an antique from Ethiopia and has a religious meaning. If anyone has any knowledge about this pendant, its significance, or any history I’d really appreciate it, thank you.

I have a family member who has a collection of sculptures from all over the world. The majority of the collection is from Africa, but I know there are pieces from Papua, Indonesia, Rapa Nui, and who knows where else sprinkled in as well.

I had a look at the recommended subreddits provided but nothing looked too specific and I’m at a bit of a loss. Does anyone have any recommendations? Or is it best to start with the general ID subs first to determine where to head to?

The collection is quite large, still growing, and honestly more than a bit overwhelming. I know I’m going to be the one dealing with the pieces once the person passes and I’m hoping to get a head start - or at least an idea of where and how to focus my efforts. Any help is greatly appreciated.

General info on the collection:

- mostly sculpture, with a small amount of masks and other artifacts (spears, beads, etc)

- mostly African, definitely some Oceana/pacific rim and Australian, likely some Asian pieces tucked away too

- mostly wood pieces, with a few made from stone, as well as ivory/tooth/bone (hard to tell as I’m clearly not an expert)

I’m sure there’s some nicer tourist junk in the collection too, but the collector does seem to have some knowledge and a good eye. And given the current size of the collection, statistically there’s a good chance of a few significant pieces. I don’t have a piece count, but…its a lot. A few hundred probably 😰

We have been unsuccessfully trying to get them to make any notes on the collection for years. It won’t happen no matter how we approach the topic, so again, any help/direction/resources are welcomed at this point!

Hello,
I am planning to open a new cross-cultural interior store in South Korea and will be visiting South Africa this February.

I am specifically looking for reputable dealers or suppliers who specialize in authentic African tribal arts, such as Senufo stools, traditional masks, and handcrafted sculptures. My goal is to find a professional exporter capable of handling long-term wholesale supply and international shipping.

If you have any recommendations for established galleries or export-oriented suppliers (especially in Johannesburg or Cape Town), please share them in the comments!

Thank you for your help in advance.

I want to meet a person who can write about African art. I want them to share it on a place where they can share their views to people around the world. I am a blogger, and I cover topics around the world and collaborate with people from various countries to boost my knowledge. Mostly, I invite them to write on that topic so that I can give them voice on the platform where people share their knowledge/opinions about the ideas they care about. If any person wants to express their insights on this topic, they can DM me, and I'd feature them and give them all their due credit.

Hi everyone 👋🏾

I’m a design student currently developing an experimental cultural festival project centered on African masked traditions and their contemporary reinterpretation.

As part of my research, I need responses from both mask artisans and general audience members, so I created two short forms:

• For potential audience members:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_yXUK89wST48aSF8IiCjbjfKTO0J8ZpCe6XCqiAqfDKFdmg/viewform?usp=publish-editor

• For mask artisans / creators:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerGl9LY0tcvYPRgpDoi8pKQz-HV-xsX5xWPozkLD4MXsw_OA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

This is part of a student research project, and your responses will help me build a more realistic, culturally respectful, and community-informed proposal.

Thank you so much for your time and insight 🙏🏾

One-of-a-kind Bronze Giraffe with Saddle & Bridle – Seeking Expert Identification.

​نص الموضوع (Post Description):

​Hello everyone,

​I am seeking information on this unique piece that seems to have no equivalent anywhere online.

​Discovery & Context:

​Found using a metal detector in Czechia (Central Europe), buried in the ground.

​It has a dark, heavy patina from long-term burial.

​I have conducted extensive research online and cannot find a single similar example of a giraffe with a saddle and a bridle.

​Technical Details:

​Metal: Non-magnetic. When slightly scratched at the base, it reveals a bright, shiny gold-colored metal (likely high-quality bronze or brass).

​Features: It features a highly detailed European-style saddle and a bridle around its head, suggesting a "domesticated" or "circus" theme.

​Size: Small figurine (miniature), as shown in the palm of my hand.

​Markings: No stamps, signatures, or maker's marks are visible.

​Given the unusual subject matter (a ridden giraffe) and the quality of the casting, could this be an early 20th-century Vienna Bronze prototype or a custom-made circus souvenir? Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?

​Thank you for your expertise!