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NEW LISTINGS AFRICA: Metallic |
BACKGROUND As a dealer in world coins and ethnographic monies I am often able to purchase interesting antiquities of various sorts. I am not a specialist in any of these fields, so descriptions will often be limited.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Click on the thumbnail to see a larger scan. Please forgive the scanner pasteup lines! Size of scan is not related to size of actual object; look in the description for sizes. Sometimes the scan is not of the actual piece being offered, but a general illustration representing multiple specimens in stock. This is usually indicated in the description, but please ask if you are unsure. |
Ethiopian Finger Rings Traditional brass rings in a variety of sizes, some with a bit of punched decoration. Though still made and worn today, these are old well-worn pieces. Shown in photo with approximate finger size. Please give second and third choices if picking, because everybody will order the big ones first. Price for my choice: $13.50; Price for your choice: $17.50
Kuba Arrows CONGO Iron hunting arrows, mostly leaf-shaped, 4-7", please give second choice of specimen 2130) Each: $16.50; 2131 Barbed arrows, or harpoons., your choice, each $18.50 2130s) Shafts 2-3 foot nocked shafts which fit any of the arrows, feathers damaged 2.50 each, or feathers missing $1 each, plus $2 for mailing tube.
Ethiopian Icons (Metal) Looped white metal icons in various shapes, which open out to display hand-painted color religious scenes. Coptic Christian. Age uncertain, but all look well used. 40mm MT Thaler shown for size comparison. 2160) Cross Pattee (enlarged ends) forms, 100+mm tall, your choice:
2160e
$75
2162) Patee Cross, smaller, your choice:
2162a 89mm $70
2162b 83mm $60
2162c 75mm $60
2161) Rounded Background, 85+mm tall, your choice:
2161a
2161c $65
SEE also wooden icons below
Ethiopian Prayer Beads Hollow, silver-plated beads (66-68) with endpiece and colorful yarn tassles, total length 21". Crude, wearable. Age uncertain. 2167) $9.75
Coptic Crosses Ethiopia. Looped white-metal crosses in a wide variety of styles, mostly 60-90m high. Silver versions are genrally older, but are hard to find now. I can not supply the exact pieces shown in the scan, but if you advise a preference I will try to match, otherwise just give you the largest in stock. 885a) $9 Each; $7.50 each per 5+; 885c) Smaller, mostly 40-50m $6 Each; $4.50 each per 5+. Inquire for larger quantities of either size. 
Coptic Cross, Brass Ethiopia. Brass cross of simple design with copper loop, about 24mm tall. 889) $2
Spirit Snake Lobi of Ivory Coast & Nigeria. Tall iron snake form, object of worship & protective amulet. This piece a tall 49.5 inches; just top and bottom shown in scan. Pictured & described in Fer Noir by Andre Blandin, p.119-121. 315) $100
Dogon Iron Figures MALI Human figures, some in active poses, possibly dancing. Probably early 20th c. Standing figures are 195mm (8") tall 2008) Each: $65
Tiv Knife Nigeria, Tiv Tribe Plain iron sword, oval hand-guard with design one side. Length 19-21". Apparently a functional weapon, not a currency item. 2108) $45
Spear Tip NIGERIA Iron spear tips.. I would guess they are functional weapons rather than a prestige or money item. Lengths: 2121 19.5"; 2122 17.5"; 2123 15"; 2125 17" 2121, etc) Each: $40
Noisemaker CONGO Iron gong on ring with six clangers. Overall length 19". Probbly for ceremonial use, but I have no information. 2150) $50
Ethiopia Cowrie Milk Jug Sturdy containers apparently of woven grass or fabric around a (wood?) core sealed inside with pitch. Complex leather strapping decorated with cowries provides a carrying or hanging loop, and keeps the stopper from falling away. I don't know if they will still hold liquid, and they could use some cleaning and leather care. Minor imperfections such as broken threads. Probably c.1920's or earlier. A decorative container for keys, loose change, etc. 3010a) 18" tall $75; 3010b) 12.5" tall $55; 3010c) 14.5" tall $50; 3010d) 15.5" tall $65
Ethiopia Painted Drum Functional drums with a terracotta base covered in animal hide. Probably c.1920's or earlier, but the custom now is to have the tops painted and use them as decorative objects. Painting is new, and sometimes signed. Typically 8" across and 4" tall. Specimens available: 3015a ; 3015b ; 3015c Each: $65
Mauritania Necklace Complex, wearable necklace with simple bead clasp, using old trade beads, some newer beads, shells, spindle-worls, metal objects, etc. Worn by men today. Scan shows both sides. Necklaces available: 707c 24 oz.; 707d 18 oz.; 707e 18 oz.; 707f 23 oz.; 707g 23 oz.; 707h 20 oz.; 707j 20 oz 707) Each: $92.50
Fulani Womens' Necklace Multiple strands of small cane-cut or seed beads with bundled long beads as pendant, copper wire, dyed twine. Fit easily over head. Specimens available: 704c ; 704d ; 704e ; 704f ; 704g ; 704h 704) Each: $54.50
Natural Coral From Mali, strung and sold as beads, vivid orange sticks and pieces. Strand of 22". They look fragile but are actually fairly sturdy. New on market.
742) $42.50
Old Stone Bracelet My supplier identified these as granite bracelets excavated in Mali. At another website they are described as "Sahara Neolithic, 3000-5000 years old." About 4" diameter, with 2.75-3" inner diameters, so wearable. Typical specimen shown. A pair recently went for $82 on eBay. 880) $27.50
Ethiopian Icons (Wood) Looped wooden icons of various designs, with carved exteriors which open out to display hand-painted color religious scenes. Coptic Christian. Age uncertain, but some signs of use. 40mm MT Thaler shown for size comparison. 2510) Three Panel fold-outs with six painted and two carved sides, each panel is 130x140mm, your choice:
2510a $125
2511) Door frame, three panels, your choice: SOLD
2512) Door frame, two panels, your choice:
2512b 111x167mm closed $85
2512c 109x166mm closed $85
2512d 101x166mm closed $85
$65 SEE also metal icons above
Faith Necklace When the Arabs were converting Saharan Africa to Islam, it was prudent to wear something showing you were already of the faith. Necklaces of red carnelian stone with flat, coinlike inscribed beads were popular. These are modern equivalents, probably c. 1800-1850, in red glass, restrung. The smaller beads read Mohammed and the larger Allah Hasbi or similar phrases. Each is different, two samples shown. Strand length 13". XG680) One-pendant $27.00; Two-pendants $29.00 (Great gfts: Three for $69)
Snake vertebrae Real snake bones, strung. Used for divination throughout Africa. XG665a) Smaller bones, usually arranged by size, generally 6-8mm width, two examples shown for colors. Strand length 11.5-12" average 70 bones per strand $29.50; XG665d) Graduated strand including larger bones, up to 18mm. Strand length 12-13", sample shown $50
Flint Arrows Small flint arrow points from the Sahara (Mali & Niger) from the days when it was a woodland. The Overstreet Price Guide dates these as "Capsian Mesolithic to Neolithic" (c. 12,000 - 4,000 BC, Homo Sapiens) and notes that they have come out of Africa in quantitry lately, often being resold as more valuable western American points. Not a known "money" item but surely a barter object in those days. Generally intact, but some may be chipped or incomplete. As they come: 890) 5 pieces $10.00; 10 pcs. $17.50; 25 pcs. $31.00; 100 pcs. $100
Flint Scrapers, etc. Arrows, scrapers and possibly other sorts of tools from the Mali-Niger region. Cruder and thus earlier than the above lot. I am guessing from the comments in Overstreet (#36) that these are Mid-Paleolithic, c. 250,000 - 45,000 BP, made by "gracile" Neanderthals. Generally intact, but some may be chipped or incomplete. As they come: 891) 5 pieces $14.00; 10 pcs. $23.50; 25 pcs. $46.00; 100 pcs. $145
Stone Celts, Scrapers, etc. Various stone tools from Western Sahara, 45,000 - 12,500 years B.P. 895a) Largest, your choice $19; 895b) Medium, your choice $14; 895c) Smaller $9
Stone Celts, Scrapers, etc. Various stone tools from Western Sahara, 45,000 - 12,500 years B.P. Largest piece (A) is 110x45mm. 896a) $40; 896b) $35; 895c-g) $27.50 each
Stone Pestle For grinding grain, light brown granite or granite-like stone showing much hand wear. Length 400m (16"), 90m (2.5") diameter at top, 5 Lb weight. Possibly the largest inexpensive artifact available from this period. From Mali, West Africa, Upper Paleolithic, 45,000 - 12,500 years B.P.. 900a) $135
Amber Beads Natural tree amber from Gambia, roughly shaped into beads of 12-18m and holed with a hot poker. Old amber (and imitation) beads were important trade items in Africa; these appear new, but given the cost of old beads, these are good representations. 641s Set of 3 diff size beads plus piece of broken bead $3; XG641a) 12" doubled strand of 65-70 beads 35.00 XG641a) Longer 18" doubled, better value 45.00
Spindle Whorls From Nigeria, age unknown but not modern. Blackened terracotta bead-like weights used to spin raw fibres into thread. Like coins, arrows, and diety figures, a common type of artefact found across cultures. These run 40-50m across with a variety of shapes. 2500a) Plain shapes (samples shown) $9; 2500b) Etched designs (samples shown) $12 Discount: Less 10% for 3, Less 20% for 6 or more, mixed categories OK 2500n) String of 33 pieces, just as shown $200 (other strings available) 2502) From Mali, very similar but smaller: 30-35mm or some 25mm with more design $3.50 each, or 2.75 ea per 5 or more.
Pi (Jade disk) "Heaven was represented by the ancients in the tangible form of a perforated disk of jade. It was believed that such a token embodied the qualities of solar effulgence, and was closely connected with the powers of Heaven by means of its magical properties, and therefore the Emperor, being the Son of Heaven, was able to commune and consult with Heaven through the medium o the jade disc." (C.A.S. Williams Outlines of Chinese Symbolism and Art Motives p.235. Old disks typically date from Chou to Han and are not uncommon. Ramsden, in Chinese Early Barter and Uninscribed Money discusses them as badges of rank,proof of diplomatic authority, and possibly the origin of square-holed coins. Offered here are MODERN pieces in black agate, 45mm (1.75") wide, crowded with small marine(?) fossils. No two are alike. ZZ1327) Each: $5, or $39 for 10
Tibet Skull Beads
Rosary beads were made from Monks' knuckle bones carved into double-faced skulls, traditioanlly 108 pieces on a string. These modern replicas are mde in Nepal of Yak bone. 108 beads on 28" string, beads 12-13mm tall. XG688) $13.50, or loose beads $2/10.
Michoacan Beads
Strings of excavated beads, probably obsidian, shell & others, possibly 1200-1400 AD. Purchased many years ago & I have lost information. All have been tumbled or harshly cleaned but look better with a little buffing. Scan reduced size. Strings available: b, c, d, e. 1013) 35.00.