An Exceptional Eastern Cape Nguni Pipe Bowl and Stem

An Exceptional New Zealand Māori Bugle-Flute ‘Pu Turino’ With soft and shallow surface decoration profusely carved with a dynamic scrolling motif made of two sections bound together with original and complete ‘Kiekie’ vine roots at four points The bow shaped mouth piece of anthropomorphic form with small rounded sounding hole to the end Soft silky smooth medium brown patina 18th Century Size: 33.5cm high, 4.5cm wide, 2.5cm deep - 13¼ ins high, 1¾ ins wide, 1 ins deep Provenance: Collected by Robert Nutter Campbell 4th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry on his return from Singapore 1829 Thence by descent Sold Sothebys, New York, May 17, 2002, lot 368 Ex Private English collection Ex Finch and Co...

A Rare and Exceptional Carved Headrest ‘Kali Hahapo’ Excellent colour and patina Wood, sennet (coconut fibre), glass beads Tonga Late 18th / Early 19th Century SIZE: 19cm high, 5...

An Unusually Large and Fine Tsonga ‘Antelope’ Headrest Wood, pigment, glass beads Zimbabwe 19th Century SIZE: 20cm high, 32cm wide - 8 ins high, 12½ ins wide PROVENANCE: Ex Private UK collection Sold through auction and purchased through Finch and Co...

A South Eastern Congo, Zaire Songye Protective Fetish Figure ‘Nkishi’ of Geometric Form the arms placed to the side A plug of fetish material in the head cavity a strip of old hide and fur around the waist Old smooth crusted patination 19th Century – Early 20th Century Size: 20cm high – 8 ins high / 29.5cm high, 11½ ins high (including stand) The face of this protective figure is typical of the strong angularity of Songye carving. Amongst the Songye ‘Nkishi’ were associated with a magico-religious society known as ‘bukisi’ which controlled initiation camps and circumcision ceremonies. A shaman would ritually add magical substances ‘bashimba’ to activate the figure as a source of power that would give protection and ensure well-being. Larger figures ensured the tranquillity of the whole community and promoted village fecundity and fertility. Smaller personal or family ‘Nkishi’ were used for protection against illness, sorcery, witchcraft, and war and to promote fertility. Due to their considerable powers the figures were considered dangerous and so they were manoeuvred by means of rods or sticks attached to their arms. They were sometimes made to walk as if on parade. These small half figures were not always used as personal protective devices, but were placed in gourd bowls and used by diviners to communicate with the supernatural world. These divinatory calabash were filled with a number of symbolic objects such as chicken claws, teeth, stones, seeds, etc., as well as carved wooden figures. The Songye’s ritual use of calabash can be compared with the baskets used by the Tshokwe. Provenance: Ex English Private collection Acquired 1950’s Ex Finch and Co...

An Unusual Polynesian ‘Child’s’ Fighting Club Old patina and mellow colour Wood Fiji 19th Century SIZE: 84.5cm long - 33¼ ins longù Provenance: Ex Welsh collection, sold at au...

An Unusual ‘Kanak’ Hardwood War Club Fine dark glossy patina from use, a lighter band where a now lost ‘binding’ would have acted also as a ‘wrist thong’ Wood New Caledonian, Kanak E...

Zulu /  Nguni Pipe Group South Africa Carved wood with metal liners, one rare very large sized pipe Lengths 14, 8, 7 inches  36, 20, 17.5 cm Period Late 19th early 20th century.

A rare find this 19th century green velvet and goldthread ceremonial jewish cape, from Morocco.

Beautiful pair of vintage Middle Eastern tribal fibulas. A fibula was used to close a woman's veil in the Middle East and Africa. Handcrafted by Berber a...

Antique, 19th century Asian Middle Eastern collector two person wooden camel saddle with ornate brass mountings and iron reinforcements. 19th Century Midd...

An unusual and whimsical figural TOTEM carved bone ceremonial pipe, displayed raised on a custom wooden Stand. Outstanding patina. Superb condition. Dimensions: (approx) Pipe...

A scarce framed fragment of "Negreria" dance cape, circa 1940s, Huayucachi, Junin, Peru. Dating to the mid-20th century, the rare large size South ...