Collector's

A truly beautiful and awesomely realistic wooden fish carving from the Bozo people from Mali. The Bozo people are mostly fishermen inhabiting the banks of the Niger river and who have managed to keep alive their wonderful and rich traditions. Among them there are annual festivals where pieces like this one are used as sort of puppets to show the community its own history and to share their values to the youngest one.

A lovely old basket from Mali made with woven vegetal fiber, trimmed with leather and covered with cowrie shells galore. A great piece that will give a superb touch to any decoration.

An awesome and very complete antique Tuareg man’s  leather bag from Mali. Decorated with leather fringe and tassel. It includes a full set of pocket knifes,needles, scissors and tweezers. It even includes a rubber ring to fit, no doubt, ia well’s pump. All of them are essential items in an extremely harsh environment where everything is useful and nothing is discarded. Superb patina. An extremely covetable piece and with a great ethnographic value.

A superb old traditional man’s leather bag - dhaza’butsh- from Taghzuth in the Rif region in Morocco. The leather work is oustanding and it shows a great patina. Decorated with long leather fringes and mirror pieces. Taghzuth (Tarhzout) has been since long ago a main centre of leather works such as bags like these, belts, sacs and other. A beautiful and true piece of Berber tribal art.

A great old Tuareg sword -takuba- or -takouba- from the Aïr Mountains in Niger. The sheath is made of leather and it features wonderful and distinctive Tuareg painted and engraved astral decoration. The top of the hilt is made of copper and iron the lower part being wrapped in leather for a better grip. The -takuba- is a symbol of prestige and courage and it is passed down from one generation to another as a valued heirloom. 

A vintage Algerian tin box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a Turkish delights. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Small size.

A vintage tin box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a biscuit, chocolates or sweets box or a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Different illustrations on each side and cover. Big size.

A Tuareg old carved wooden post or -igem- used to show the location of the entrance to the family tent in the encampment. Beautiful patina. Very decorative and full of character.

A striking and joyful large decorative vintage pendant or medallion from the Kuchi nomad group inhabiting large areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is used hanging in their tents both as a protecting amulet and as a distinctive badge. Made of pieces of cloth and embroidered threads of vivid colors, small beads and appliqués of great colors and metal pendants. There are extremely decorative, no doubt about it, and if you feel bold enough and want to go wild you can even use it as an extra-large necklace. It will not go unnoticed.

A superb antique and huge main beam of a Berber traditional tent or jaima from the tribe of the Zaïane. Made out of a single piece of solid cedarwood and featuring most interesting carved Berber decorative motifs meant to protect its dwellers from dangers such as the evil eye. Of a curved shape it would be supported on two pillars inserted in holes for that particular purpose in the beam to form the highest point of the tent. The whole structure would be then covered by a large piece of cloth made of different patches of flatwoven wool textiles and, in some occasions, leather. Charmingly obscured by smoke from the family fire. An extremely interesting piece, authentic, rare, enormously decorative and with a most appealing and undeniable tribal character. A piece not to be missed.

A great old long wooden pestle from Timbuktu in Mali. It features a fantastic engraved decoration.They are used in the Sahel and vast areas in sub-Saharan Africa to grind the millet in a wooden mortar by rythmically beating it with the long wooden pestle. Sometimes two people do that by beating in turn the millet inside the mortar in a captivating cadence. Beautiful patina. An outstanding ethnographic piece.

Simply superb big size old Mauritanian wooden mortar and pestle. They are used in the Sahel and vast areas in sub-Saharan Africa to grind the millet by rythmically beating it with the long wooden pestle. Sometimes two people do that by beating in turn the millet inside the mortar in a captivating cadence. Beautiful patina. An outstanding ethnographic piece not to miss.Pestle measure, 130 cm.

A charming old glass bottle of anis d’Alger Phénix from Algeria. Great to give that original decoration touch you have been longing ...

A truly fantastic old original Veto Sándor soda siphon bottle or seltzer bottle from Budapest (Hungary) sourced in Morocco. The 1938 glass bottle of a lovely green colr keeps the original glass tube inside. The metal cap dates from 1944. A great opportunity not to be missed.

A superb old Moroccan Berber spinning wheel entirely made in wood. Includes the original spinning spindle. An extremely rare piece in a very good state featuring an awesome patina.

A vintage tin box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a biscuit, chocolates or sweets box or a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Small size.

A vintage tin box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a biscuit, chocolates or sweets box or a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Small size.

A vintage tin box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a biscuit, chocolates or sweets box or a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Big size.

A vintage tin box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a biscuit, chocolates or sweets box or a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Big size.

A vintage tin box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a biscuit, chocolates or sweets box or a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Big size.

A vintage tin box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a biscuit, chocolates or sweets box or a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Big size.

A Belgian vintage tin container box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Small size.

A Belgian vintage tin container box of Orientalist design found in Morocco. It was most likely a a tea caddy. Its design is certainly very appealing and though it shows pass of time and use signs it still fully retains all its charm and endless decorative possibilities. Small size.

A superb old -sunduk-, sunduq-, travel or -camel- chest from Mauritania. Made of wood it features beautiful intricate copper fittings that make it very atractive. With key. It has small round handles to make it easier to carry and to secure it with straps to the mount. Beautiful examples of this quality have become extremely rare to find nowadays.  

An old Tuareg litter from the Moroccan Sahara. It would be used as a litter on the back of the mount to stow the load and when on camp and turned over as a platform. The wooden legs feature the typical Tuareg engraved decoration. A very original piece with a superb patina which due to its unusual small size may have many decorative uses.

A wonderful man's old Tuareg leather bag from Mali. Decorated with cowries and leather tassels. It includes a full set of pocket knifes, wood piquet, leather pouches and fly-whisks made of leather and animal hair. Superb patina. An extremely covetable piece as it is the complete set!.

A stunning antique traditional Berber man leather and embroidery bag or -akrab- from the Moroccan Berber tribe of the Aït Morhad.  A scarce example, in a wonderful state and with an oustanding workmanship. A similar one can be seen in the Musée Tiskiwin in Marrakech (see page 53 of "L'art de la Parure sur l'itinerare Marrakech-Agadez-Tombouctou Marrakech", Tome I, by Bert Flint). A true gem.  

A great set of old Pashtoon or Turkoman tassels from Afghanistan. They were most likely part of a headdress or of a traditional frock coat. It could have also been used as part of the traditional harness of a horse. The tassels are made of beautifully worked silver domes with hanging fringe ending in tiny blue beads. It calls particularly the attention the most original cross-shaped silver bead connecting the lower tassels to the one on top. A remarkable tribal piece.

A great set of old Pashtoon or Turkoman tassels from Afghanistan. They were most likely part of a headdress or of a traditional frock coat. It could have also been used as part of the traditional harness of a horse. The tassels are made of beautifully worked silver domes with hanging fringe ending in tiny blue beads. It calls particularly the attention the most original cross-shaped silver bead connecting the lower tassels to the one on top. A remarkable tribal piece.

A charming set of three old Berber dolls. Each of them are made of a piece of bone lovely dressed in traditional peasant attires. 

A great doll from the Losso tribe inhabiting Togo on the west coast of Africa. This kind of dolls has a ritual role and girls called them Di Kori, literally, -sons of bone-. It is made of a piece of animal bone and it features some strands of glass beads most likely arranged by the girl's father according to long-followed traditions and beliefs. A superb piece of African ethnography.  

A great pair of Berber wood tie beams used to secure the loom. They are densely and beautifully decorated with carved motifs including a six pointed star and dates. This decoration is meant to protect the loom while it is being used as well as the weave itself. The loom whilst the weaving process in ongoing is considered by the Berber as a living creature exposed to evil influences so that it must be protected.   

A simply exquisite and stunning antique XVIIIth century silver and bronze Mughal water pipe or -hookah- from Kashmir. Whether you smoke or not this is a piece to admire and enjoy. The bronze and silver container for the water features a richful and detailed decoration that continues in the wooden pipe itself with elegant and superb appliqué bronze decoration. A very rare piece. Other names: -shisha-, -narguile-, -chillim-, -qalyan-.  

A superb antique silver Berber dagger or koummya from the Anti Atlas in Morocco. The koummya is the traditional dagger of the Berber of Morocco. This one has a wonderful silver and wood contoured handle, a curved double-edged blade and a very characteristic upturned scabbard tip. The scabbard and the silver in the handle shows a great and detailed engraving work. The scabbard also shows a series of repairs that evidence its age and how dear it was to his owner. A truly good piece.

The art of the ancient kingdoms of Benin and Ife, in what is now Nigeria, have puzzled scholars from their discovery some six centuries ago. They show a degree of dexterity, virtuosity and naturalism that is truly awesome. Their human figures and heads usually represent an Oni or royal person. The Oni was a descendant of Odudua, the maker of the world. The Oni was divine and never appeared in public without a beaded veil. This is a wonderful example. Please enjoy, for example, the wonderful hair. Age unknown. 1:1 scale.

The remarkable bronzes of the kingdoms of Benin and Ife, in what is now Nigeria, have stunned art scholars from their discovery some six centuries ago. They show an awesome degree of dexterity and virtuosity in the making and their naturalistic depiction of humans is simply imposing. These heads are made by the lost wax technique and usually represent an Oni or royal person. The Oni was a descendant of Odudua, the maker of the world. The Oni was divine and never appeared in public without a beaded veil. This is a wonderful example. Please enjoy it and note, among other, the scarifications on the forehead. Age unknown. 1:1 scale.