A 47 cm wooden figure, a royal court, and a glimpse into the world of the Mossi. Looking at this Mossi figure from Burkina Faso, I found myself stepping into a ceremony that may help us understand it. There is something slightly unsettling about a good African sculpture. You can put it on a table, photograph it from every possible… Read More »When the Ancestors Came to Court: The Hidden Drama of a Mossi Figure
Recently I revisited a fascinating postcard from the Loango coast, dating from around 1910. At first sight, it appears to confirm exactly what many collectors hope to see: African masks and figures photographed “in the field,” offered in an open-air market during the colonial period. For many collectors, such early documentation immediately creates reassurance. The older the publication or photograph,… Read More »African Art Authenticity, Colonial Postcards, and the Problem of “Made for the Market” Objects
This morning, before opening the shop, I placed these two next to each other. Not because they belong to the same tradition. They clearly do not. But sometimes objects begin to speak differently when they share the same space for a while. One is a mask from Zambia, in the Mbunda style. The other, a small Lobi figure from Burkina… Read More »Two African Pieces on the Table
Chibinda Ilunga figure, Chokwe, Angola — Museum RietbergThis article is based on a recent newsletter I sent to collectors. Over the years, I’ve noticed that most collectors are not lacking interest — they are lacking orientation. Where do you look? What do you trust? And how do you train your eye? In this guide, I share three practical directions… Read More »How to Train Your Eye in African Art: 3 Practical Tips for Collectors
Traditional African art is one of the most powerful artistic traditions in the world. Across hundreds of cultures and thousands of communities, artists created masks, sculptures, and ritual objects that served social, spiritual, and political purposes. Unlike modern decorative art, authentic African art was created to function inside living traditions. Masks danced in ceremonies, figures protected villages, and ritual objects… Read More »Authentic African Art: Masks, Figures and Ritual Objects for Collectors
A short tale inspired by the Yoruba tradition of the horse rider — a symbol of leadership, prestige and authority in West African art. Photo collage: Yoruba horseman in the Osun Sacred Grove, Arch of the Flying Tortoise. Landscape photograph by Adolphus Opara. Horseman sculpture photographed by David Norden. A long time ago, when the kingdoms of the Yoruba were… Read More »The Yoruba Horseman: A Legend of the Rider
