Objects

A great old fringed leather bag from the Tuareg sourced in Mali. Goatskin and pigments. Tuareg women are in charge of leatherworking. They soak the skins and remove the hair to then tan them with natural tannins and soften them with oil or butter. The colourful decoration uses natural dyes. This one would have been used to carry personal items by its owner. I would hang from the camel's saddle when travelling and from a pole at the tent. These pieces are also sometimes turned into pieces of decoration at the entrance of the tents or -jaimas-. Extremely decorative.

A stunning old Tuareg woman's leather traveling bag -tehaihait- from Tamanrasset in Southern Algeria. Goatskin, cotton and pigments. Tuareg women are in charge of leatherworking. They soak the skins and remove the hair to then tan them with natural tannins and soften them with oil or butter. The colourful decoration uses natural dyes. Superb ornamentation that combines painted, embroidered and incised decoration. These bags are used by women to store their jewellery, clothes and other items. Sometimes they are secured with the characteristic tuareg locks -tanast-. They are hung from one side of the camel when travelling and from a pole or post at the women's section at the encampment. Not only a wonderful ethnic piece but also one with great visual impact.

A superb old Yoruba or Tuareg medicine container or pouch from Burkina Faso. It is made of leather and cast bronze and further ornated with leather strap fringe. The lid on top slides up and down. It was used as a container to carry natural traditional oitments and medicines for personal use as well some other elements for ceremonial use. A great and rare ethnographic piece. 

A great and rare old hand Tuareg hoe or plow from Niger. It is made of forged bronze and it features a simple but most atractive incised and engraved decoration that was most likely meant to have a beneficial effect on the harvest to come. It was attached to a long wooden pole or stick as a handle. A great ethnic piece and an sculpture on its very own right.

A stunning wooden milking bucket from the High Atlas and the Jbel Saghro in Morocco. It is made of cedarwood, iron and copper. It shows signs of intensive use yet it is in a great condition and it has a lovely patina. It will enhance any spot.   

A lovely old Tuareg craddle. It is made of wood, leather and reed. It is lavishly ornated with leather fringe and tassels as well as with typical Tuareg decoration meant to protect the newborn from evil. It would have been hung to keep the child out of reach of animals and to gently swing it. A wonderful piece of great ethnic value.

A superb mancala or -manqala awale- from Mali carved out from a single block of wood. It has a great patina that evidences many, many hours of playing, Original metal plaque repairs. It is decorated with a carved cocrodile, a common animal in the iconography of those cultures living under the influence of the Niger river. The meaning of -manqala awalé- is two rows of six-. Variations of this game are popular in vast areas of Africa. Other names: bao, mankala, selus, bechi, mancala.

A wonderful old camel saddle -tarik- or -tamzak- from the Moroccan-Algerian border south of Jbel Bani. It has a wooden structure and it is fully covered in camel hide. It features great darns and painted decoration meant to protect the rider and his camel from evil and the treacherous spirits -djinn- that inhabit the desert. This type of saddle is only used by men. It is placed in front of the camel's hump. The rider's feet will rest on the curve of the animal's neck. Superbly worn.

An old terracotta vessel from Mali. Its shape, particularly the neck, and it simple yet elegant engraved decoration would lead us to the style commonly referred to as Djenné or to Bankoni. A superb piece, well balanced and showing a high dexterity.

A superb old Berber oil container or vessel made of camel hide. It comes from the Draâ Valley in the Anti-Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Includes a wooden cap and ladle. It shows a wonderful patina and a most appealing color. An outstanding ethnographic piece that has become extremely scarce. XIXth century.

A fantasticTuareg leather amulet-holder pouch or wallet from Algeria. Goatskin, cotton and pigments. Tuareg women are in charge of leatherworking. They soak the skins and remove the hair to then tan them with natural tannins and soften them with oil or butter. The colourful decoration uses natural dyes. This sample features a lovely ornamentation that combines painted, embroidered and incised decoration. 

A marnificent Afghan wooden rbab. The neck is wonderfully carved and it is ornated, as well as the rest of the instrument, with exquisite mother-of-the-pearl and bone inlaid decoration. The rbab or rubab is the true Afggan instrument. It is uses to accompany classical, ghazal and folklore music recitals. It was invented in Afghanistan but it is extremey popular in other aras such as India or Pakistan. Its sound is similar to that of the guitar and it can produce very high pitches.

A beautiful old silver perfume bottle or sprinkler from the region of Kashmir. It was filled with perfume or rose water and offered to guests on their arrival to refresh them in the best of Indian and Persian tradition. A superb embossing work and patina. Late XIXth century.

A great painted Moroccan wooden and skin drum -tabl- or -tablah-. It is in great state and its decoration makes it particulalry lively and attractive. An instrument that is a constant in all Moroccan celebrations.