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Who ever said that London was the cradle of the punk movement?. The Valley of the Ourika and its surroundings in Morocco in the very heart of the Atlas mountain range from where this awesome comes could have been very well so. A Berber hand-made knotted wool that shows a boldest use of new and re-used materials where the purest Berber tradition produces a serious piece of art like this. The warps has been made using different materials. The weft combines woven undyed natural wool, knotted undyed natural cream and brown wool brightly coloured threads. True art at its best. Otros names: -boucherouite-. 1980's.

A truly original tribal belt from the nomad tribe of the Kuchi in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Decorated with beads, coins, little pompoms and dangles. It has got your name on it. 1970's.

A most original African old armlet or bracelet. The core of it is made of a hard and well smoothed piece of wood. On it a great number of small glass beads have been arranged showing superb skill and highest aesthetic sense. In some areas a layer of an ochre paste has been applied which reinforces its character and original design. As to its attribution we would favour Cameroon, Burkina Faso or the kuba from Zaire or Congo. It is certainly an eye-catching 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 very old set of Moroccan Berber fibulae sourced at the village of Tissent in central Anti-Atlas. They are made of silver sheet on bronze and red glass cabouchons. They also seem to have some traces of niello left. Very nice engraving decoration. The central cabochon serve as eyes that ward evil off and protect the wearer. They probably come from the tribes Ida ou Nadif or Ida ou Zekri. Mid- to late XIXth century.

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.   

An appealing woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, possibly from the Beni or Aït Mguild in the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco or from neighbouring groups, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool, silk and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes and long cotton fringes or pile. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by rattling their jewellery. 1960´s.

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.

An elegant old silver kuchi torc or choker. This torc shows a great smithwork with thick silver wire, a nice incised decoration and two red coral cabochons. It was probably made in the region of Nuristan in Northern Afghanistan close to the Pakistani border. Superb patina. The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pastoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mid-XXth century.

A nice pair of Kuchi old silver earrings from Afghanistan. Their design makes them very light and the cabochons of turquoise stone make them even more attractive. They remind to some extent of the more elaborated designs that can be found in the Republic of Kyrguizistan. The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pashtoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Pakistan. Mid-XXth century.

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 beautiful woman's shawl, cape or -handira- showing the arrangement of stripes and colours of the Berber tribe of the Aït Brahim belonging to the group of the Aït Haddidou, in the Moroccan High Atlas. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. It is used not only in festive gatherings but also daily as a garment to withstand the freezing winter temperatures in the Atlas. It is fastened with textile straps or with fibulae. If the woman is married then she would also combine it with a very distinctive pointed headgear. 1950´s.

Antique ornaments from the Katawaz basin in the Afghan-Pakistani border. An ornament of the muslim population of the region. They are worn as a headdress hanging at each side of the head since their size and weight do not allow them to be used as earrings. The bottom part represents a basket from which a tree grows due to the warmth from the sun. They are made of gilded silver, textile and they feature a central turquoise cabochon. Their patina is excellent. This piece is certainly a piece of conversation. Other names: -Muchley pendants-, -Sun earrings-. Late XIXth century.

An eye-catching and very original set of Kuchi old silver earrings from Afghanistan. Their shape seems to be a variant of the openwork silver dome shape design, classic in the area, which local name means -birdcages-. The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pashtoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Pakistan. First half of the XXth century.

A lovely low stool from the Swat Valley in Pakistan. Made of walnut wood. Leather woven seat and shaped wood legs. 

A beautiful Berber haïk or shawl from the Moroccan High Atlas. Handmade. Woven natural undyed wool. The combination of browns and creams as well as the distribution of the stripes are exquisite and grant it a very elegant tribal character. A haïk or -tahraoukht-, is an outer garment used by the different Berber tribes as part of their attire. It may come in many sizes and the way to wear it can vary a lot depending on the area and the needs of the wearer, for example, as a cape or as a sort of veil to cover head and face. 1960's. 

A beautiful old Kuchi silver anklet. This sample of plain silver shows a great workmanship and a precise and detailed chiselling work. Its shape also reminds of those anklets found in the city of Orissa in the state of Bengal in India. It has a very attractive patina. An outstanding example of this sort of pieces of jewellery of a Kuchi origin. The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pastoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Early XXth century.

A great old backed low stool from the Swat Valley in Pakistan. Shaped legs and wonderful carved back featuring oak leaves. Leather woven seat. Superb patina. 

A absolutely stunning woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the Berber group of the Beni or Aït Ouaraïn in the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton with natural dyes. It features very distinctive and rich striped decoration used by this group and the eaqually characteristic long fringe at the back. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities. 1950.  

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 superb Berber old open flared bracelet from Morocco. It shows a wonderful patina. It keeps traces of nielloed decoration. Its features suggest that it comes from the Central Anti Atlas in Morocco. In principle this bracelet would have been worn by the younger daughters of the family. Other names: -azebj-. Second half od the XIXth century.

An appealing woman's shawl, cape or -handira- featuring the distinctive colours and stripes of one of the three fractions of the Berber tribe of the Aït Morrhad in the High Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. It is used to withstand the cold winter temperatures in the Atlas and during festive gatherings. 1950´s.

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.