Over 170 lots of African art. Items include women's indigo wraps. Marka/Dafing people, Burkina Faso; Dan headdress, Liberia; large carved Mali-style African drum; old currency spears. Tuareg people, Mali & Niger; rod puppet head of Dankalankule, the Oryx antelope; Bandaka “jellyfish” form currency. Mambila & Chamba people; pendants, Coptic Christian people, Ethiopia; leg band. Mongo & Konda people, Congo; Koranko body mask, Guinea, Sierra Leone; abstract bogolan textile. Bamana people, Mali; ceremonial snake-form bayonet/knife. Lobi people, Burkina Faso; ceremonial blacksmith’s hammer, Northern Nigeria; wedding blanket. Tuareg people, Niger & Mali; West African heddle pulleys. (A) Senufo people, Ivory Coast; maternity figure. Lokko people, Sierra Leone; male Chi Wara head crest mask. Bamana people, Mali; rare Asafo flag bearer/dancer's skirt. Fante people, Ghana & more. Items are located in Pleasant Valley, NY.
Payment is due by Monday, April 13 at 1PM. All lots are subject to seller approval.
Information with payment & pickup instructions will be emailed to winning bidders the morning after the auction ends.
Pickup is by appointment only & must be completed by Wednesday, April 15 at 3PM.
All lots sold as is, where is. There is a 18% Buyers Premium for all lots purchased. Payment methods for non-vehicle & non-equipment is cash, Visa, Master Card or Discover card.
Preview available online 24/7. Live preview is also available by appointment by calling our office at 845-635-3169, option 7.
Items are located at the Absolute Auction Center: 45 South Ave, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569.
Click More Info/Bid Now for additional photos.
Payment is due by Monday, April 13 at 1PM. All lots are subject to seller approval.
Information with payment & pickup instructions will be emailed to winning bidders the morning after the auction ends.
Pickup is by appointment only & must be completed by Wednesday, April 15 at 3PM.
All lots sold as is, where is. There is a 18% Buyers Premium for all lots purchased. Payment methods for non-vehicle & non-equipment is cash, Visa, Master Card or Discover card.
Preview available online 24/7. Live preview is also available by appointment by calling our office at 845-635-3169, option 7.
Items are located at the Absolute Auction Center: 45 South Ave, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569.
Click More Info/Bid Now for additional photos.
Auction Info
Over 170 lots of African art. Items include women's indigo wraps. Marka/Dafing people, Burkina Faso; Dan headdress, Liberia; large carved Mali-style African drum; old currency spears. Tuareg people, Mali & Niger; rod puppet head of Dankalankule, the Oryx antelope; Bandaka “jellyfish” form currency. Mambila & Chamba people; pendants, Coptic Christian people, Ethiopia; leg band. Mongo & Konda people, Congo; Koranko body mask, Guinea, Sierra Leone; abstract bogolan textile. Bamana people, Mali; ceremonial snake-form bayonet/knife. Lobi people, Burkina Faso; ceremonial blacksmith’s hammer, Northern Nigeria; wedding blanket. Tuareg people, Niger & Mali; West African heddle pulleys. (A) Senufo people, Ivory Coast; maternity figure. Lokko people, Sierra Leone; male Chi Wara head crest mask. Bamana people, Mali; rare Asafo flag bearer/dancer's skirt. Fante people, Ghana & more. Items are located in Pleasant Valley, NY.
Payment is due by Monday, April 13 at 1PM. All lots are subject to seller approval.
Information with payment & pickup instructions will be emailed to winning bidders the morning after the auction ends.
Pickup is by appointment only & must be completed by Wednesday, April 15 at 3PM.
All lots sold as is, where is. There is a 18% Buyers Premium for all lots purchased. Payment methods for non-vehicle & non-equipment is cash, Visa, Master Card or Discover card.
Preview available online 24/7. Live preview is also available by appointment by calling our office at 845-635-3169, option 7.
Items are located at the Absolute Auction Center: 45 South Ave, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569.
Click More Info/Bid Now for additional photos.
Payment is due by Monday, April 13 at 1PM. All lots are subject to seller approval.
Information with payment & pickup instructions will be emailed to winning bidders the morning after the auction ends.
Pickup is by appointment only & must be completed by Wednesday, April 15 at 3PM.
All lots sold as is, where is. There is a 18% Buyers Premium for all lots purchased. Payment methods for non-vehicle & non-equipment is cash, Visa, Master Card or Discover card.
Preview available online 24/7. Live preview is also available by appointment by calling our office at 845-635-3169, option 7.
Items are located at the Absolute Auction Center: 45 South Ave, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569.
Click More Info/Bid Now for additional photos.
Categories:
OLD CURRENCY SPEARS. Tuareg people, Mali and Niger. The Tuareg are nomadic people in the southern Sahara regions of Mali and Niger. Spear-form currency was exchanged in important transactions like the purchase of a camel or rifle, and as bride wealth. These examples were collected from a Tuareg man in the city of Moptiin northern Mali in 2003. More recently, many local tribesmen in and around this city, including the Tuareg, have become involved in Jihadist terrorism. Consequently, it is no longer safe for Westerners to visit this region and coveted objects such as these currency spears are difficult to obtain. To facilitate transport on a camel, each spear consists of 2 sections. The upper blade ends in a tapered blunt point that fits in a leather-bound socket at the top of the handle. A couple of brass bells are suspended from a ring below each leather-bound socket. There are engraved abstract designs on both sides of each blade and handle. Each on a custom base. Iron, brass, leather. Barbed blade 18in Handle 17. 5in.
More Details
OLD CURRENCY SPEARS. Tuareg people, Mali and Niger. The Tuareg are nomadic people in the southern Sahara regions of Mali and Niger. Spear-form currency was exchanged in important transactions like the purchase of a camel or rifle, and as bride wealth. These examples were collected from a Tuareg man in the city of Moptiin northern Mali in 2003. More recently, many local tribesmen in and around this city, including the Tuareg, have become involved in Jihadist terrorism. Consequently, it is no longer safe for Westerners to visit this region and coveted objects such as these currency spears are difficult to obtain. To facilitate transport on a camel, each spear consists of 2 sections. The upper blade ends in a tapered blunt point that fits in a leather-bound socket at the top of the handle. A couple of brass bells are suspended from a ring below each leather-bound socket. There are engraved abstract designs on both sides of each blade and handle. Each on a custom base. Iron, brass, leather. Barbed blade 18in Handle 17. 5in.
Closes On: Apr 9, 2026
07:35:30 PM – 07:36:00 PM EST
Starting Bid:
$1.00
Auction Type: One Lot
Quantity: 1
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