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CEREMONIAL DOUBLE GONG. Bamum people, Cameroon. Large double gongs such as this are important emblems of the Kwifoyn Society composed of elite members of the royal court. The arched handle is wrapped with intricately woven straps of leather-like raffia. The bells a made from hand forged iron. The gong was used during funerals for members of the Kwifoyn Society, other solemn occasions, and to announce the arrival of the King. Iron, raffia. H 36.5in W 20in. Pickup only.

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This rod puppet head of Dugon, the hornbill bird, has a long, slender articulated beak that is supported by a rubber strap. The crest is detachable. H 5 in. Wood, paint, rubber, metal. Page number 140 figure 158 in the book: The colorful Sogo Bò Puppets of Mali, Mary Sue Rosen Paul, Paul Peter Rosen. Pickup only.

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Unique large carved bowl with a woman's face and chest, pink, red, black, and blue paint. Purchased in the 2nd quarter of the 20th C. Pickup only.

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Drum affixed to head of woman holding a drinking cup. Purchaed in the 2nd quarter of the 20th C, from Baga Guinee, Africa.

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Carved statue of a man wearing a face mask. Purchased in the 2nd quarter of the 20th C.

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Walking Stick “Very Old,” on custom base, Sierra Leone. 39" tall. Provenance - Exhibition: “Texture & Form The Art of Personal Objects Selections From The Rosen African Art Collection.” The Pen and Brush Gallery, New York City 2004.

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Six African statues with varying detail & decoration. Largest is 10"T.

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RARE BLACKSMITH’S BELLOWS, FIVE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN BLACKSMITH’S TOOLS AND IRON ORE. (A) Bellows. Gogo people, Tanzania. See picture showing multiple similar bellows in use. This example of a completely intact double-barrel bellows with iron nozzles is an exceedingly rare find worthy of any museum or personal collection. It is said to date from the 1930s. The bellows, carved from a single block of wood, was used to force air into hot coals by an assistant who pumped the leather caps by alternately raising and pushing down on the wooden rods. Wood, leather, iron. H 26in. (B) Round headed hammer with wood handle. Baule people, Ivory Coast. Handle shows excellent patina from use. On custom base. Wood, iron. H 11.5in. (C) Dagger-shaped anvil. Matakam people, Cameroon. On custom base. Iron. H 10in. (D) Anvil with white pigment. Kissi people, Guinea. The anvil has been anointed with white kaolin libations honoring ancestors by a blacksmith seeking guidance in his work from ancestral blacksmiths. (E) Punch. Cameroon. Used to make holes and decorative designs. On custom base. Iron. H 7in. (F) Small iron-containing rocks. Stones such as these were loaded into a traditional smelting furnace to separate the iron (bloom) from the slag (See pictures showing a traditional clay iron smelting furnace. In one image, the furnace is being heated with wood. Other image shows iron-bearing rocks being added to the furnace). This is the way native iron was obtained before it was commercially available. The stones were collected in a region of Mali where the soil is rich in iron. Pickup only.

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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.

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Five figural pcs African art incl marked "Nyam West Tanzania Mortar", all with intricate carvings. Largest is 13.5"T.

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WOMAN’S WRAP. Ewe people, Agbozume Ghana. This textile consists of 15 hand sewn, hand woven strips with blue, red, and grey warp stripes. Various figural designs (“scriptures”) include hands, spears, a hat and a crane-like bird. Collected in 2005 from Kwaku Gyasi who reported that it originally belonged to a queen mother who died “90 years old”. Cotton. 74in x 51in.

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BLOLO BLA FEMALE SPIRIT SPOUSE. Baule people, Ivory Coast. This statue was carved according to instructions from a diviner. It represents a man’s spouse in the spirit world, a figure who is consulted in dreams for help in solving personal problems. It is kept in the owner’s room as an altar. This statue has the carved base, typical short legs slightly bent at the knees, bulging eyes, and hands resting peacefully on the abdomen. H 17in. Wood, pigment. See Bacquart 1993 p.48-49.

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The cotton print robe worn by this tall rod puppet figure of a beautiful woman covers strings that move her articulated arms. The appended, protruding bosom made of cloth is an unusual feature of this puppet. H 44 in. Wood, paint, cloth, metal, string. Page number 153 figure 179 in the book: The colorful Sogo Bò Puppets of Mali, Mary Sue Rosen Paul, Paul Peter Rosen.

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CEREMONIAL AKUNINTAN (“OHENE AKUNINTOMA”) CLOTH. Ashanti people, Ghana. This very rare textile belonged to the wife of a Paramount Chief. A number of towns and villages report to a Paramount Chief who in turn reports to the King. Among the embroidered symbols representing the authority of the wearer is that of the Sankofa bird who has a habit of repeatedly looking over its back. It symbolizes wisdom gained from past experience. The grid pattern of the designs is typical for an Akunintan textile. This cloth was created by a master of this embroidery technique, Opanin Akwasi Bamieh in Kumasi, the Ashanti capital city. It is in excellent museum quality condition despite an estimated age of at least 50 years when it was collected in 2005 in Kumasi. Exhibited at the Pen and Brush Gallery New York 2006. Black felt textile with embroidered multicolored designs. 100in x 55in.

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Pair of African art statues, one tagged "Bamileue, Cameroon", approx 10.5"T.

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African art statue of man with detailed carved decoration, 31.5"T. Pickup only.

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This rod puppet head of Dankalankule , the oryx antelope, is decorated with red and brown cotton cloth and metal rings on its horns. H 37 in. Wood, paint, cloth, metal. Page number 129 figure 142 in the book: The colorful Sogo Bò Puppets of Mali, Mary Sue Rosen Paul, Paul Peter Rosen. Pickup only.

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Three wood statues, one with beaded necklace. Largest is 11.75"T.

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TRADITIONAL BOGOLAN TEXTILE (“MUD CLOTH”). Bamana people, Mali. Made from 8 hand woven, hand sewn cotton strips. Painted with traditional designs using pigment derived from soil. Cotton textile, pigment. 63in x 43in.

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Moba people, Togo West Africa primitive wooden carved statue of person having red bead decoration on top, approx. 63"T. Pickup only.