Such wicker-covered shields were carried by the Ganda/Baganda/Waganda north of lake Victoria and by the Basoga in Uganda. Among the shields from this region, this is one of the most striking.  Wicker shields were made of lightweight wood stitched together with twine from a climbing plant. It has horizontal lines running from the rim to the middle of the shield. The handle on the inner side has bent wooden sticks tied together my fiber strings. Wicker shields display the high artistic quality of their workmanship and their elegance. Shields among African cultures were used in different ways. Used during initiation of young boys, ritual ceremonies and of course in wars. Since they were always in armed conflicts with each other. This is an old shield with visible traces of usage around the handle. Material: Lightwood and wicker, Fiber strings Age: Approximately 50-60 yrs Origin: Uganda Condition: slight damage (Small hole as a result of old age)

Kuba (also called Bakuba)  people a Bantu ethnic group living in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo between the Kasai and Sankuru rivers. The Kuba are surrounded by other tribes such as the Suku, Yaka, and Pende. This is a sculpturally powerful kuba mask helmet with an immense triangular nose, closed eyes, mouth and carefully sculpted ears. It has a beaded decoration mixed with cowrie shells in the form of a trident-like pattern attached to strips of cloth at the top and bottom of the mask. At the bottom of the mask is attached animal hide and rafia leaflets. This mask was used to declare the status and wealth of a masked personage at funerals of deceased initiated men (mubendi). Masked performances acknowledged the achievements of the deceased and their membership in the initiation society. Material: Wood, beads, Raffia, cowrie shells, paint, Animal hide, Fibre Condition: Good Age:approx 50-60yrs Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo

The Bembe Tribe originates from the northwest forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bembe carved numerous kinds of wooden figures that represent various spirits.  Knives, staff, fly whisks, and divination gourds are also often decorated. These stools were personal to the owner. They were not transferred or traded, so intimately associated were they with the person for whom they were made. The size of the stool was often in relation to the importance of the owner.  This is an old bembe stool made from hardwood with unique features and an old brown patina. It clearly shows signs of age and usage with scarifications on the disc-shaped base. Material: Wood Age: Approximately 55-75 yrs Origin: Democratic Republic Of Congo Condition: Good

The Baboa people are an ethnic group living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is an iconic mask identified as a war mask "pongdudu" or "kpongadomba", these types of masks usually have concave facial planes, they have large open mouths with wooden teeth, hypertrophied pierced eas wedged into slits on the sides of the mask and round eyes. These masks were worn to intimidate enemies in battle. This mask is carved out of hardwood, has a brown patina and of old age. Material: Wood Condition: Good Age:approx 50-60yrs Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo

The Chokwe people are an ethnic group found in Angola, southwestern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and northwestern parts of Zambia. The Chokwe people influenced the art of many neighbouring tribes, including the Lunda, Mbunda, Lovale and Mbangani. They are regionally famous for their exceptional crafts work, particularly with baskets, pottery, mask carving, statues, stools and art objects produced to celebrate and validate the royal court.  Chokwe masks were used by male dancers with costumes during initiation ceremonies to bring forth concepts of ideal beauty attributed to women. Men danced to dramatize the attributes of women, the masks were used to impersonate an ancestor or spirit. This is a wooden zoomorphic mask called aardvark mask (pig mask), these masks were made to comment on ancestry because of the animals' practice of digging borrows, interpreted as having access to the underground a place where ancestors dwell. The mask has an elongated shape, snout on one end and projected ears. It has a dark patina and signs of old age. Material: Wood and Fibre Condition: Good Age:approx 50-60yrs Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo

The Chokwe people are an ethnic group found in Angola, southwestern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and northwestern parts of Zambia. The Chokwe people influenced the art of many neighboring tribes, including the Lunda, Mbunda, Lovale, and Mbangani. They are regionally famous for their exceptional crafts work, particularly with baskets, pottery, mask carving, statues, stools and art objects produced to celebrate and validate the royal court.  Chokwe masks were used by male dancers with costumes during initiation ceremonies to bring forth concepts of ideal beauty attributed to women. Men danced to dramatize the attributes of women, the masks were used to impersonate an ancestor or spirit. This is a wooden face mask, frontal coiffure with a wig like hair dress made from knotted fibers to imitate a form of wig long favored by chokwe women. It has a brown patina and signs of old age. Material: Wood and Fibre Condition: Good Age:approx 50-60yrs Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo

The Dinka people are a Nilotic ethnic group native to South Sudan, but also having a sizable diaspora population. They mostly live along the Nile, from Mangalla to Renk, in regions of Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Abyei Area of the Ngok Dinka in South Sudan. This is found among the Dinka and their neighbors such as the Omdurman peoples. These dolls are representations of women dressed in traditional costumes who are usually adorned with beaded jewelry including necklace, earrings, anklets, armlets, hairpins. Material:wood ,beads and fibre Age:approx 50-60yrs Origin:Democratic Republic Of Congo Condition:Excellent

The simple forms produced by the Dinka and Nuer are often little more than the result of  pruning of a found branch to produce a three- or four-legged  headrest. Zoomorphic features, such as a tail and a head, are sometimes brought out.These  were used as pillows to help someone to have good sleep. They also used as a comfort to help protect ceremonial coiffure. In some occasions headrests are used as stool. As a personal object, the headrest has become part of the individual. Usually, when the person died, he is buried with his headrest. Sometimes the headrest is passed on to his heir, who would treat it with respect because this wooden piece embodies the spirit of the deceased person.Dinka headrests are primarily used by older men.The following headrest is crafted from hard wood and looks visibly old. Material:Wood and  string Age:Approximately 50-60 yrs Origin:Sudan Condition:Very good

The simple forms produced by the Dinka and Nuer are often little more than the result of  pruning of a found branch to produce a three- or four-legged  headrest. Zoomorphic features, such as a tail and a head, are sometimes brought out.These  were used as pillows to help someone to have good sleep. They also used as a comfort to help protect ceremonial coiffure. In some occasions headrests are used as stool. As a personal object, the headrest has become part of the individual. Usually, when the person died, he is buried with his headrest. Sometimes the headrest is passed on to his heir, who would treat it with respect because this wooden piece embodies the spirit of the deceased person.Dinka headrests are primarily used by older men.The following headrest is crafted from hard wood and looks visibly old. Material:Wood and  metallic studs Age:Approximately 50-60 yrs Origin:Sudan Condition: Good

  The Dinka live in the region of the upper white Nile and are together with the Shilluk and Nuer,the most important tribes in Southern Sudan.The Dinka shields are often made out of antelope,buffalo and  hippopotamus hide and have a partially carved pole for carrying it,and tied with leather straps in a depression formed during the drying process of the still fresh skin.Shields among African cultures were used in different ways; during initiation of young boys, ritual ceremonies and of course in wars, since they were always in armed conflicts with each other. Material:Buffalo hide,metallic studs  and wooden pole Age:Approximately 50-60 yrs Origin:Southern Sudan Condition:Good  

The Dinka people are a Nilotic ethnic group living in South Sudan. They mostly live along river Nile, from Mangala to Renk, in regions of Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Abyei Area of the Ngok Dinka in South Sudan. This is a beautiful figural Mwiko decorated with a carved figure on the handle.  Dinka artists often carve their artifacts with great care which reflects the importance of these objects to the owner. Spoons/Spatulas were personal items used by their owners as a beater for maize or cassava bread or as a pottery beater since groups in this area produce some of the finest figural pottery in the region. This is a wonderful figural mwiko/spatula with a bird figure at the top and a brown patina and metal studs. Material: Hard Wood Condition: Good Age:approx 50-60yrs Origin: Sudan  

The Hemba are located along the Congo River. The Hemba art foams are closely linked t0 the Luba art.Hemba sculptures are representations of ancestors.Female sculptures are rare and are associated with fertility as well as used for divination purposes.The following is a head fragment that could have remained of an original Hemba sculpture,The following fragment has a black patina and has visible signs of age . Material-Wood Age-approx 50-60 yrs Origin:Democratic Republic Of Congo