Sub-Saharan African Art From the collection of Dr. Martha Ehrlich This exhibition offers a wide range of stone, wood, metal and fiber from traditional African cultures. Ranging from the Neolithic era to the 20th century, all of these pieces are comments on deeply-felt beliefs and the aesthetic ideals of the peoples who made them, whether they were intended for utilitarian use as pottery, cloth, weapons or seating, for religious use as masks or figures, or to enhance the prestige of leaders. Through their forms and meanings, these objects serve as points of contact between the living, the ancestors and the spirit world.
Below are images of a selection of pieces that can be seen in the exhibition. Click each image to see a larger view.
Click here to view Dr. Ehrlich's faculty page |
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Fante, Ghana
20th C.
Wood male leader's "gunpowder" stool
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Asante, Ghana
20th C.
Chief's stool with silver ornaments; male pattern; large size indicates important leader
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Boni, Somalia
20th C.
Man's wood headrest
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Shona, Zimbabwe
1874-1894
Softwood headrest
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Kuba, Dem. Rep. of the Congo
20th C.
Wooded cylindrical container for tukula (camwood powder)
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Asante, Ghana
1600s
Cast brass kuduo; valuables container; early type close to Islamic prototypes
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Asante, Ghana
c. 1700
Cast brass ring-top shrine spoon
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Asante, Ghana
20th C.
State sword, openwork iron blade with hornbill, wood handle with traces of gold leaf
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Mangbetu, Dem. Rep. of the Congo
20th C.
Man's throwing knife, iron, wood
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Asante, Ghana
20th C.
State swordbearer's hat; rawhide covered with sheet gold with attached wood objects covered in sheet gold
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Asante, Ghana
20th C.
"Linguist" staff (okyeamepoma); complete, 3 pieces, hen with chicks
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Asante, Ghana
20th C.
"Linguist" staff finial (okyeamepomatire); wood, gold leaf, chameleon on box of clothes
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Asante, Ghana
20th C.
Wood "linguist" staff finial of a Sankofa bird
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Yoruba, Nigeria
20th C.
Elaborate forged iron shrine lamp with eight birds
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Dida, Ivory Coast
20th C.
Woven, tie-dyed tubular raffia skirt; ceremonial wear
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Yoruba, Nigeria
20th C.
Wood Gelede mask
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Ibo, Nigeria
20th C.
Wood beautiful maiden spirit of the men's Mmwo society
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Ogoni, Nigeria
20th C.
Wood female mask with black "corkscrew" hairdo
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Ogoni/Eket, Nigeria
20th C.
Small wood face mask with coats of red paint; for yam harvest dance
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Asante, Ghana
20th C.
Small wood akuaba with square eyes
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Yoruba, Nigeria
Early 20th C.
Old male Ibeji figure with long neck, small head, hands free of body
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