A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Tan in color with random brown stars on one side and brown stars connected by lines on the other side; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Brown with spotted design, one small area of geometric designs; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Reddish brown cloth, various symbols, designs in black and reddish orange; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Intricate geometric pattern throughout with a random design; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Untitled acrylic painting by S.E. Walk of a seated African man holding a long stick in his right hand and wearing a bracelet with a tooth dangling from it on his left. Origin Liberia, but artist is not Liberian.
Wooden head with both animal and human features; mane, tusks, and nose of an animal, ears, mouth, and eyes of a human; geometric design on base, back is plain, soft wood; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Carving of a human and an animal; the shapes are intertwined and a human face is part of the animal figure; origin South Kenya; engraved lettering on front reads "MR KASUMILI IOMASIL FROM_MbEGAM LD bAGAMOYO MAKOMDE."
Wooden dog bell with wooden clapper, cord, and leather strap; bell has pattern on one side; origin Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Very decorative carved elephant tusk with interconnected human and animal motifs, lions, elephant, alligator, antelope, and human; origin Ituri forest.
Very decorative carved elephant tusk with interconnected human and animal motifs, lions, elephant, alligator, antelope, and human; origin Ituri forest.
Currency in the form of an anklet in high relief. Created with puddle mold method of casting. Origin Ekonda people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Hunting spear for protection against lions; metal handle and blade with four holes, blade and handle attached by a piece of wood, metal wiring wrapped around sections of the handle; origin Nandi people of Kenya.
Front and profile views of a female wooden figure carrying a vessel in each hand. Origin Bena Lulua people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Three pieces of dark brown cloth stiched together with light brown raffia; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Wooden face decorated with white paint, straw beard, nose holes; face has white dots, outlined nose and lips with lines in the forehead area; string attached through holes in the back; origin Ndaka people of the Ituri rainforest.
Wooden face decorated with white paint, straw beard, nose holes; face has white dots, outlined nose and lips; carved crown decorated with white strips; string attached through holes in the back; origin Ndaka people of the Ituri rainforest.
Smoked ivory ornamental face mask, mouth has five carved pointed teeth; origin Epulu (Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire), but is a replica of masks created by the Dan people of Cote d'Ivoire.
Painting of the Ituri rainforest, home of the Mbuti people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), by Anne Eisner Putnam. Heavy oil palette and brush, acrylic possibly used; signed "Anne Eisner", lower right.
Wooden imitation toy shield with rings painted on front and back; carved with handle on back; handle and piece on front painted black; origin Ituri rainforest.
Yellow, violet, and natural coiled raffia basket; repetitive geometric decorations in natural raffia within violet bands, edge is three rows of tightly woven material, plain underside; origin Uganda.
A children's doll made with two pieces of wood that depict a mother and child wearing raffia skirts. It has yellow beads for earrings. Origin West Africa.
A children's doll made with two pieces of wood that depict a mother and child wearing raffia skirts. It has black beads for earrings and contains wood burning decorations on the base. Origin West Africa.
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Reddish brown background, triangles in black plaid, black hooks, and various leaves and stars. One side appears to be unfinished. Origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Gourd bowl for palm wine; a braided leather handle is connected through two holes; origin Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Clay pipe with long wooden stem; design engraved around bowl, copper coiled around end of stem; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Mbuti people.
Ornamental face mask with elongated nose, carved headpiece, closed eyes, and a string through the holes at top; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Light background with red and gray lines; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Wooden chief's chair in two parts; the rectangular end of the seat fits through a slot in the back; back carved with two flowers on top and bottom, an elephant, a giraffe, and diamond motif around the border; teeth-like carving on the bottom helps secure the seat to the ground; possible origin Tanzania.
Ivory figure of a man in bark cloth; he appears to be holding something in his right hand; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Rectangular gong; two pieces of wood fastened together with a glue-like substance; opening on one side, wood bows out on front and back, and top and bottom edges are jagged; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.
Wooden face mask decorated with white paint and straw beard; chin and cheeks have cobweb design, eyes are small triangles, elongated nose, forehead has horizontal dashes, headpiece has vertical white lines; broken string attached to one nail, straw attached through two small holes; origin Ndaka people of the Ituri rainforest.
Skin carrying bag designed like a large pocket book, made to be worn through the arms on a back, straps crisscross on back; origin Mbuti people of the Ituri rainforest.