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AFRICAN ART HIGHLIGHTS

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Video still from "Life in Miniature: Asante goldweights" February 9–July 27, 2012 showing. Multiple gold Asante figurines, specifically Asante gold weights.

 

Life in Miniature: Asante Goldweights

Polished wooden sculpture of an elongated bird positioned on a small square base. The body of the bird is rectangular in shape, with its exaggeratedly long neck stretching backward above the body of the bird, until its head reaches its tail. Triangular motif carved in relief on wings and body.

Bird, Ashanti

Black and white photo of a sculpture of a sitting nude woman balancing a drum on her head. The side of drum is decorated with two projecting breasts and designs carved in relief.

Drum, Ashanti

Black and white photo of a sculpture of a male antelope head, made out of wood, black pigment, metal buttons for eyes, positioned on a square wooden base. The head made of wood, and makes use of negative space to depict a curved neck and bowed head connected by towering antlers and a shorter ear.

Male Antelope, Bambara

Stained wooden mask of an individual, its face elongated, facial features enlarged. It wears a headdress in form of a chief's knitted cap which parts its hair in two.

Helmet Mask, Bamenda-Tiku

Wooden sculpture of the elongated and thin body of a nude woman, standing and holding her belly. Her body, especially her stomach, bears marks of scarification and she wears a long braid. Strands of white shells are tied around her neck, thighs, and ankles.

Female figure, Baule

Wooden sculpture of the elongated and curved body of a nude woman, standing and holding her belly. Her body, especially her torso exhibits scarification nodes and she wears a bulbous, lobed coiffure.

Female Figure, Baule

Wood, fabric, and raffia sculpture of a man wearing a cloth loincloth sitting with legs crossed. His elongated torso exhibits scarification.

Male Figure, Bembe

Mask made of wood and metal studs, replicating a human profile. The facial features include round cut-out eye cavities, enlarged lips, and a pointed chin.

Mask, Dan

Wooden mask replicating a human profile. Resting on top of the mask is a red, black, and ivory/beige headdress, made of cloth, cowrie shells, fiber, bronze bells, glass beads, and kaolin. which extends far above the mask with colorful tassels that fall alongside the mask.

Mask, Dan

Abstract wooden statue of a standing male complete with an exaggeratedly cylindrical torso, short arms, and wide small legs. No prominent physical features are depicted.

Male Figure, Buraka

Black and white photo of a wood and polychrome mask replicating a human profile, featuring exaggerated facial features, including widened and enlarged mouth and teeth, large projecting nose, and large eyes. Three curved vertical horns, carved in relief with geometric designs, emerge from the top of the mask.

Mask, Bobo

Black and white photo of a mask replicating a human profile, made of wood, brass tacks, black pigment, string, and 2 nails. The facial features of the profile are carved into the mask so that the scalp, prominent eyebrows, eyes, hooked nose, cheekbones, and lips all protrude from the base of the mask.

Mask, Bete

Bronze sculpture of a figure seated on a stool, situated on a wooden base. He is dressed and holding a club (viewer's left) and staff (viewer's right) in either hand. He is adorned with ringed jewelry around his neck and ankles, and chest. Above his enlarged eyes is his knitted headdress, complete with horns.

Seated Figure, Benin

Wooden sculpture of a standing female figure on a wooden base, partially nude and holding her protruding stomach. Scarification patterns transverse her body and face, her limbs, especially her neck are elongated, and her feet face opposite directions.

Female Figure, Bena Lulua

Wooden sculpture of a standing female figure, adorned with jewelry, and holding a knife (viewer's left) and staff or club (viewer's right) in each hand. The figure is presented with scarification marks on its torso, ivory inlaid eyes, and a metal ring around its neck.

Female Figure, Bembe

Wooden sculpture of twin figures, known as Ibeji, encased in square-like shawl of layered cowrie shells and beads. Only the heads of the figures are visible, emerging from a border of red fabric, framing their chests.

Ibeji, Nigeria

Polychrome wooden mask replicating the human profile. The features of the face are outlined in brown, including a six point star in between the figure's eyebrows. The hair is depicted in an elaborate composition of braids, kept close on the sides, while three large semicircle crests of wooden hair tower above the mask, like rooster combs.

Mask, Ibo

Polychrome wooden mask replicating the human profile. The features of the face are outlined in brown, including a six point star in the center of the forehead. Resting on top of the figure's hair is a wooden black horse, flanked on both sides by leopards that climb down its side. Resting in between the legs of the horse is a spotted, double-faced antelope.

Mask, Ibo

Mask made of wood, stain, reed, and fabric, replicating a human profile, with eyes carved out beneath the eyelids. The mouth is open, bearing teeth, and its bulbous cheeks and twisted nose greatly protrude from the mask.

Mask, Ibibio