African Tribal Art Appeals to Collectors and Decorators

Woodcarving is such an intricate part of the Makonde tribe of Tanzania that it figures in their creation myth. Lonely man has a dream, creates a carving, and puts it outside his dwelling. When he awakes, he finds the carving has become a woman, whom he takes as his wife. I guess the moral of the story is: Be a good wood carver and get the girl.
The Makonde carve in ebony (mpingo), and their imaginative figures became so sought-after in the early 20th Century that just about all of those on the market today were made for export or the tourist trade. Nevertheless they are still very high quality, and a bargain in the $150-250 range.
More African tribal items are coming on the market today from the safari days of the first half of the 20th Century. Along with horns, antlers, furs and hides, hunters bartered for and purchased tribal art, including masks and other ceremonial pieces, some authentic and others made just for the market.
Many of these vintage tribal artifacts, like the Mokande ebony carvings, are popular again these days, because they fit right in with trend for Modernist décor. These primitive forms, after all, inspired many Modern artists, including Picasso.
In Benin, the potters of the Baatombu tribe are a select group of women artists. Much of their work is commissioned for funerals. The pieces often serve some ceremonial purpose, as a lamp or vessel, and reflect the stature of the deceased and the sentiments of those left behind.
There is no pretense to this art, and it is very moving. The artist has made herself a vehicle for the family’s grief, and we can see the raw emotion channeled through her hands. These items, since they deal with death and grief, qualify as “grotesques,” and can be difficult to look at and compellingly attractive at the same time.
Each of these funeral pieces is unique to the grieving family, so it is difficult to find comparative pieces for pricing. From those I have seen, however, elaborate figures are valued from $500-800.
A Kota reliquary, or Kota mbulu ngulu, consists of metal strips (osseyba), which have been mingled with the relics of deceased ancestors and some religious powders and potions. The strips are then fashioned on to a carved wood form with a handle. The resulting reliquary was used in religious ceremonies or posted by the entrance to a village or the home of a tribal leader.
The Kota culture is centered in Gabon and in the Congo. Reliquaries are a part of an ancestral cult called bwete, common in the Mahongwe tribe. About a year ago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York mounted an exhibition devoted entirely to these reliquaries. They have become highly sought-after by collectors. Some extremely elaborate pieces have been auctioned off at major auction houses for tens of thousands of dollars.
One of the more impressive items of tribal art is the Ashanti bench. Also called stools, they are carved from one block of wood. Each bench is made for one individual, and is said to be imbued with that person’s soul. No one else is permitted to sit on it. When not in use, it is hidden away or turned upside down. There are sometimes grips underneath to aid in carrying the bench to various functions.
These personal benches are important in Ashanti culture. There is even a myth involving the theft of a chief’s bench that was layered with gold. You can tell the importance of a person by how impressive the carving of his bench. That will also figure in relative value on the collectors’ market, with some benches going for under $500 and others over $2,000.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that items of tribal art like these can’t be found in ordinary rural antique shops. They were very popular at one time and can pop up anywhere.
There are several good web sites featuring African art. I found www.randafricanart.com had a very wide variety of items with values.
If you have some items you would like to have appraised, mark your calendar for 1 p.m., Friday, March 28 at the Cape May Lutheran church of Pittsburgh Ave. in Cape May. The event benefits the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC) and the Friends of the Physick Estate, and a donation of $10 ($5 for members) entitles you to bring in two items or just come to watch and ask questions. There will also be some light refreshments. Call Barbara Oberholtser at MAC (884-5404)
Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions and appraisal requests to: aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.