red modern furniture » African

Monumental Senufo Bird

Red Modern Furniture — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:09:40 +0000

Large scale Senufo bird circa 1950′s. This powerful example has it’s wings outstretched and is clad in embossed tin with remnants of red fabric.

Congo Nail Fetish Sculpture

Red Modern Furniture — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:15:03 +0000

Serpent fetish nail sculpture from the Congo, central Africa circa early 1920′s. The figure has mirrored eyes to house the ancestral spirit or ‘nkisi force’ and patinated nails in the torso. Nails are driven into the effigy during ceremonial ritual with the intention to drive illness from the part of the body in which the nails are inserted.

Rare Baga Nimba Shoulder Mask

Red Modern Furniture — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:31:08 +0000

Early 20th century Baga ‘Nimba’ shoulder mask. This piece weighs approximately 120 pounds and stands over six feet tall. It was carried and danced by the tribe’s strongest dancer and is a figure representative of fertility and birth. This Baga piece is extremely rare and the size age and condition is extraordinary.

Thirties Yombe Fetish

Red Modern Furniture — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:21:20 +0000

This figure is a Yombe Fetish Figure, from Zaire
The nail fetishes, or nkisi, served to seal agreements, to restore health to the spirit or body, or lastly to destroy an enemy or sorcerer through magic.
A nail or some type of metal was added to the sculpture as agreements rendered or to settle disputes.
This was done by one of the high elders.

Rare Chokwe Mask

Red Modern Furniture — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:06:24 +0000

Rare Chokwe Mask from Zaire. Resin, raffia and paint circa late 1920′s. Used in rite of passage ceremonies. Incredibly powerful in presence.

Gwere Terror Mask

Red Modern Furniture — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:33:20 +0000

Rare Gwere mask from the Ivory Coast.
The Gwere are related to the Dan in Liberia and are known as healers due to their knowledge of plants.
They were the inventors of the Terror Mask, whose function was to establish contact with tutelary entities through the intermediary of dead ancestors.
During certain ceremonies the monstrous mask would clown and elicit laughter, but that did not make them any less feared or respected.

African Kuba Helmet Mask

Red Modern Furniture — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:32:07 +0000

This mask is one of the many Kuba masks from Zaire. Mythical orgins and royal power struggles are reenacted ritually with a triad of masks during important initiation and funeral ceremonies.
A mask is worn by a royal dignitary and representing both the God Woot and the king.
In addition to the Royal Traid, there or other type of Kuba masks, the use of mask with horns is still some what of a mystery. However it is believed they were used for initiation rights.

Baule Mask

Red Modern Furniture — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:27:21 +0000

Rare Baule mask from the Ivory coastThis animal helmet masks signifies the senior male persona.