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Wooden headrest carved in the shape of a female caryatid figure. Text on the image reading "Arts of Africa."

Special Installation

Arts of Africa

Overview Exhibition Objects Related Content

Seated figure, Middle Niger artist, Terracotta, Middle Niger civilization — Seated figure
Middle Niger artist
13th century

Priest with raised arms, Dogon blacksmith, Wood, patina, Dogon peoples — Priest with raised arms
Dogon blacksmith
14th–17th century

Seated couple, Barnes Foundation Master, Wood, copper and iron alloy, applied organic materials, Dogon — Seated couple
Barnes Foundation Master
18th–early 19th century

Staff with seated male leader, Dogon or Bozo blacksmith, Copper alloy, iron, Dogon or Bozo peoples — Staff with seated male leader
Dogon or Bozo blacksmith
16th–17th century

Ci wara headdress, Bamana numuw (blacksmith), Wood, metal, fiber, Bamana peoples — Ci wara headdress
Bamana numuw (blacksmith)
19th–early 20th century

Ci wara headdress, Bamana numuw (blacksmith), Wood, metal, fiber, Bamana peoples — Ci wara headdress
Bamana numuw (blacksmith)
19th–early 20th century

Lidded saltcellar, Temne or Bullom artist(s), Ivory, Temne or Bullom — Lidded saltcellar
Temne or Bullom artist(s)
ca. 1490–1530

Headdress: Female Bust (D'mba), Wood, Baga peoples — Headdress: Female Bust (D'mba)
Baga peoples
19th–20th century

Between Earth and Heaven, El Anatsui Ghanaian, Aluminum, copper wire — Between Earth and Heaven
El Anatsui
2006

Staff of Office: Figures, spider web and spider motif (ȯkyeame), Wood, gold foil, nails, Akan peoples, Asante group — Staff of Office: Figures, spider web and spider motif (ȯkyeame)
Akan peoples, Asante group
19th–early 20th century

Royal man's kente (prestige cloth), Asante artist, Silk, dye, Asante-Akan peoples — Royal man's kente (prestige cloth)
Asante artist
ca. 1910–1940

Elephant Figure, Silver (silver/copper alloy), Fon peoples — Elephant Figure
Fon peoples
19th century

Wunkirmian or wakemia feasting spoon, Dan artist, Wood, pigment, Dan — Wunkirmian or wakemia feasting spoon
Dan artist
19th–mid-20th century

Portrait face mask from a mblo performance, Baule artist Baoulé, Wood, pigment, Baule — Portrait face mask from a mblo performance
Baule artist
late 19th–early 20th century

Kpeliye’e headdress, Senufo artist, Wood, horns, raffia fiber, cotton cloth, feather, metal, sacrificial material, Senufo peoples — Kpeliye’e headdress
Senufo artist
19th–mid-20th century

Throne of Njouteu: Royal Couple, Wood, glass beads, cloth, cowrie shells, Bamileke peoples, Chiefdom of Bansoa — Throne of Njouteu: Royal Couple
Bamileke peoples, Chiefdom of Bansoa
Late 19th–early 20th century

Crest (Tsesah), Wood, Bamileke peoples — Crest (Tsesah)
Bamileke peoples
18th century

Figure, Wood (Detarium senegalense), Mumuye peoples — Figure
Mumuye peoples
19th–20th century

Head of an Oba, Edo artist, Brass, Edo artist — Head of an Oba
Edo artist
16th century

Plaque: Equestrian Oba and Attendants, Brass, Edo peoples — Plaque: Equestrian Oba and Attendants
Edo peoples
1550–1680

Ìlẹ̀kùn ààfin (Ìsẹ̀ palace door), Olowe of Ise Nigerian, Wood, pigment, Yoruba peoples — Ìlẹ̀kùn ààfin (Ìsẹ̀ palace door)
Olowe of Ise
ca. 1904–1910

Ceremonial Sword and Sheath (Udamalore), Yoruba artist, Cotton, glass beads, wood, brass bells, rope, metal (?), Yoruba — Ceremonial Sword and Sheath (Udamalore)
Yoruba artist
19th–20th century

Ancestor Figure (Ekpu), Wood, Ibibio peoples, Oron group — Ancestor Figure (Ekpu)
Ibibio peoples, Oron group
18th–19th century

Female Figure from an Obu (house of images), Igbo artist, Wood, pigment, Igbo — Female Figure from an Obu (house of images)
Igbo artist
19th century

Eyema byeri (reliquary guardian figure), Okak-Fang artist, Wood, metal, Fang peoples, Okak group — Eyema byeri (reliquary guardian figure)
Okak-Fang artist
19th–early 20th century

Mask (Mukudj), Wood, pigment, kaolin, Punu peoples — Mask (Mukudj)
Punu peoples
19th–20th century

Christ, Open-back cast brass, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Christ
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
18th–19th century

Mangaaka Power Figure (Nkisi N’Kondi), Kongo artist and nganga, Yombe group, Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo — Mangaaka Power Figure (Nkisi N’Kondi)
Kongo artist and nganga, Yombe group
Second half of the 19th century

Headrest: Female Caryatid Figure, Master of the Cascade Coiffure Zaire, Wood, beads, plant fiber — Headrest: Female Caryatid Figure
Master of the Cascade Coiffure
19th century

Commemorative Portrait of a Chief (Singiti), Hemba artist, Wood, Dogon — Commemorative Portrait of a Chief (Singiti)
Hemba artist
19th–early 20th century

Royal Seat (Lupona): Female Caryatid, Buli Master, possibly Ngongo ya Chintu (Hemba, ca. 1810-1870) Democratic Republic of Congo, Wood, metal studs, Luba or Hemba peoples — Royal Seat (Lupona): Female Caryatid
Buli Master, possibly Ngongo ya Chintu (Hemba, ca. 1810-1870)
19th century

Sachihongo Mask, Wood, pigment(?), Mbunda peoples — Sachihongo Mask
Mbunda peoples
19th–early 20th century

Ncák (women's ceremonial skirt), Kuba artist, Raffia palm fiber, dye, Kuba peoples, Bushoong group — Ncák (women's ceremonial skirt)
Kuba artist
early–mid-20th century

Basket, Plant fiber, colorant, Tutsi peoples — Basket
Tutsi peoples
ca. 1900

Lidded Vessel, Wood, North Nguni peoples — Lidded Vessel
North Nguni peoples
19th century

Processional Cross, Ezra Ethiopian, Wood, tin — Processional Cross
Ezra
ca. 1500

Illuminated Gospel, Parchment (vellum), wood (acacia), tempera, ink, Amhara peoples — Illuminated Gospel
Amhara peoples
late 14th–early 15th century

Hazomanga finial, Sakalava artist, Wood, pigment, Sakalava peoples — Hazomanga finial
Sakalava artist
17th–late 18th century