A Rare Yunger Shrine Idol Ex William Wright

Ashanti Shrine terracotta, shown in a kneeling position with head to the heavens and tongue out holding a small stool in one hand, perhaps a portrait of religious ecstasy. Ashanti peoples, Ghana, Afri

A Lovely carved wooden shrine idol known as a Bateba Thil of Spirit figure often associated with protective talisman used by the Lobi peoples of Burkina Faso, West Africa. This sculpture has been cust

A very rare and important large scale shrine sculpture of a Mother and her children, shown seated with infant feeding on her lap as well as two other figures on either side of the mother figure. The s

Carved from an incredibly heavy dense wood with encrusted surface suggesting years of sacrificial offerings as a bateba Thil or Spirit effigy on a fertility shrine. Lobi peoples, Burkina Faso, West Af

A Tall carved wooden shrine idol known as a Bateba Thil, or Spirit. Carved from a dense heavy wood with a mellow golden honey colored surface and signs of field use and wear. Lobi peoples, Burkina Fas

A carved wooden image of an ancestral spirit, likely from an altar or shrine of the Dogon peoples, Mali, West Africa. The figure rendered in classic form has incised design work on the top of the head

Carved from a single piece of heavy dense wood and embellished with a kaolin clay natural pigment. This is a powerful and dramatic shrine idol from the Urhobo or The Isoko who reside in the southeast

A charming carved wooden seated male effigy with large eyes, hands held in front of the bent knees and a heavy kaolin clay surface which appears to have a sacrificial patina, perhaps serving as a shri

A Fine carved wooden sculpture with highly stylized facial features and a undeniable well handled surface patina. Luba / Kalanga peoples, DRC/ Congo, Africa. Provenance: Ex Leonard Kahan Gallery, NY,

A tall carved wooden sculpture depicting a helmeted male figure standing atop a well weathered circular iron base. Most likely created as a protective idol for a home or shrine. The sculpture measures

A carved wooden female effigy with thick encrusted sacrificial surface patina that sweats in the sunlight, suggesting years of ritual applications or offerings. Such images of female ancestral spirits

A carved wooden dance mask with raised linear designs and tall carved horns, well handled surface. Masks of this type are used in masquerades performed at festivals to honor Urhobo water spirits that

A very rare carved wooden 3/4 helmet mask with incised linear designs, open work eyes, and contrasting red and white kaolin clay pigments decorating the mask. This genre of helmet mask, known as bolo

A very rare set of two Male effigies, perhaps ancestor idols with a heavy kaolin clay painted surface and evidence of multiple layers of pigments suggesting ritual use over many years. Sculpture from

A carved wooden shrine idol with energetic facial expression and suggested sense of movement with the bent legs and arching back posture. The figure has large coffee bean style eyes as well as incised

A carved wooden female effigy in abstract style with a highly stylized face and overall form. Mossi peoples, Burkina Faso, West Africa. Provenance: Ex William Wright Gallery, New York, 1980s, also Eug

A carved wooden shrine object with tall slender ringed neck, carved face and top hat, embellished with animal hide beard, red textile and encrusted surface. To the Bidjogo peoples, the spirits of the

A very unusual and rare male and female effigies in terracotta clay of seated figures with well weathered surface. The clay idols measure 9 x 5 x 3.5 inches. Luba peoples, DRC/ Congo, central Africa.

A very rare pair of Teke shrine figures, each carved from a single piece of wood and showing plenty of handling and wear. This is a large old and rare set. Teke peoples, Congo, Africa. Provenance: Ex.

A Very rare and finely crafted Janus form dance crest featuring two ancestor faces covered in animal skin. Ekoi peoples, Cross River Region, Nigeria, West Africa. The head measures 8.75 inches tall (

This is a very fine and rare Old Alusi Shrine idol figure from the Igbo peoples, Nigeria, Africa. A carved wooden figure with tall central crest, accented with a yellow mineral pigment , the face is n

A very rare carved wooden 3/4 helmet mask with incised linear designs, open work eyes, and contrasting red and white kaolin clay pigments decorating the mask. This genre of helmet mask, known as bolo

A very fine and rare Dogon or Tellem peoples Bronze shrine figure from Mali, West Africa. The tellum cultures dates to pre 16th century. A stylized anthropomorphic figure with hands slightly raised to

A rare and haunting carved wooden idol from a Brujos shrine, with an unusual headdress. Such idols are known to have been used by sorcerers in witchcraft and ritual. This idol measures 10 inches tall