Browse Items (124 total)

The mask is used by the Sande women’s society who live in an area known as the West Atlantic region which in the 15 century was called Guinea by European explorers. Sande society prepares young women for womanhood. When they have completed their…

This U-shaped mask has a pair of horns. It is made of carved wood with a dark brown encrusted patina.

This staff is believed to be from the Tiv people who live on both sides of the Benue River from the Cameroon mountains and the Sonkwala hills in the south to the Benue plains in the north. A stylistic characteristic is the crested bird coiffure. The…

This figure has a single body with two heads—one male and one female. The female head has a crest of hair. There is a large hole at the back for inserting herbal medicines. This is hand-made terra cotta with dark brown vegetable patina with red…

This male figure with a rounded belly has rings around his neck, arms, waist and ankles and has an open hole in his back for inserting one-of-a-kind object is hand-made terra cotta with a dark brown vegetable patina and red camwood powder accents.

This male figure is posed like a wrestler, with rings around his neck, wrist, waist and ankles. There is an opening at the base of the neck between the shoulder blades for inserting herbal medicines. This hand-made terra cotta has a dark brown…

This small figure is of a pregnant female with her arms outstretched behind her. She has rings around her ankles, arms, chest and hips and is wrapped in indige-nous fabric. This is a one of a kind, hand-made terra cotta with a dark brown vegetable…

Three examples of Tajere - a form of rod currency made from basic forms of ingot in which metal was stored, exchanged and transported prior to being worked by metalsmiths. The iron bars come in varous sizes and shapes and remained an important…

Kiefwebe masks represent the moon and light. This mask is characterized by striking grooved striations with white symbolizing peace and purity. A mask of this type would be worn during a lunar ceremony, an investiture, or a death of a ruler.