The Niger Bend | A Selection of Our Best Items |
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$3950.00 3 bird ring
item #681Ivory Coast - Baule Please click on the photo for 2 more views of this fine old Baule royal ring. | $1250.00 3 more old colonial figures
item #388Ivory Coast - Baule This figure is 15" tall and dates to about 1915 from the village of Sakasso. Please click on the image to see 2 more. The second one is from Dembokoro, 11 1/2" tall, circa 1900. The price is $900. The third figure is from Kakaba, 12 1/2", circa 1930, $1,250. |
$150.00 3 more old slingshots
item #253Ivory Coast - Baule This one is 10"; the second is 9". The third is 7". Each is the same price, $150. | $750.00 Akan style stool
item #582Ivory Coast - Baule 14 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 12 1/4" tall. Please click for another view. |
$750.00 Another 2-sided barbershop sign
item #331Ivory Coast - Baule This sign measures 24 x 36 1/2". Please click on the image to see the other side of this great painting, as well as another view of it in the place where we got it in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. | $2500.00 Authentic elephant wari game
item #251Ivory Coast - Baule 20 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 7". Please click on the image for 2 more views of this extraordinary, authentic game which was used tribally for many years before anyone ever considered selling it. This piece is of exceptional quality. |
$250.00 Baule brass beads
item #85Ivory Coast - Baule The larger beads in this strand measure 2 1/4" in diameter; the smaller ones 7/8". | $20000.00 Baule gold bead necklace
item #69Ivory Coast - Baule This is the original BLING, the bling of the coolest, most influential, most prestigious people in Africa. |
$12500.00 Baule gold bead necklace
item #70Ivory Coast - Baule | $750.00 Baule spirit mates
item #389Ivory Coast - Baule From Mbahiakoro, 14 1/2" tall, circa 1965. Please click on the image to view the second Baule spirit mate, a soldier, 11 3/4" tall, $500. |
$500.00 Baule spirit wife
item #68Ivory Coast - Baule This is a beautiful, old, mounted piece. | $1950.00 Beautifully detailed authentic elephant wari
item #646Ivory Coast - Baule 19 x 7 1/5 x 8". Please click on the image for 2 more views of this great object. |
$285.00 Biconal bead
item #936Ivory Coast - Baule 3 grams @ $95/g | $285.00 Biconal bead
item #937Ivory Coast - Baule 3 grams @ $95/g |
$475.00 Biconal bead
item #938Ivory Coast - Baule 5 grams @ $95/g | $475.00 Biconal bead
item #939Ivory Coast - Baule 5 grams @ $95/g |
$570.00 Biconal bead
item #940Ivory Coast - Baule 6 grams @ $95/g | $570.00 Biconal bead
item #941Ivory Coast - Baule 6 grams @$95/g |
$475.00 Biconal bead
item #942Ivory Coast - Baule 5 grams @ $95/g | $855.00 Biconal bead
item #943Ivory Coast - Baule 8 grams @ $95/g |
$750.00 Brass chief figure
item #204Ivory Coast - Baule 5" tall, ca. 1966, from Ouelikoro | $145.00 Brass elephant figure
item #349Ivory Coast - Baule 9" tall. |
$250.00 brass elephant goldweight pendant
item #340Ivory Coast - Baule 1 1/2 x 1". This genuine, old and used object was used as a counterweight in the gold trade and was configured when made as a pendant for easy of portability. | $250.00 Brass mask pendant
item #292Ivory Coast - Baule 4 1/4 x 2 3/4" |
$250.00 Chameleon pendant
item #856Ivory Coast - Baule 2.4 x 1.5" (6.1 x 3.9 cm) | $1800.00 Closeups of the faces of 3 Baule colonial figures
item #483Ivory Coast - Baule These are closeups of 2 of the Baule colonial figures found above, on this page. |
$3950.00 Cocoon top crown ring
item #680Ivory Coast - Baule This royal Baule ring bears a representation of a crown, topped by what appears to be a tiny bundle of sticks. That "bundle of sticks" represents, in fact, a cocoon of a type found commonly in Africa (though I do not know its species). The ring is a reference to a proverb which, loosely translated, says that it is a mystery whether a caterpillar builds its cocoon around itself or if it builds the cocoon and then gets in it. The significance is that there is a certain amount of mystery necessary to being a king, or a ruler of any kind. It is not necessary for everyone to understand all that a king understands. From another point of view, this serves also as a justification for his rule: if the king indeed has the knowledge which is a mystery to the public then it is his duty and right to be the king. The fact that the cocoon is on top of a crown reinforces the power of this symbolism. | $7000.00 Crescent shape mask pendant
item #686Ivory Coast - Baule 2 1/2" wide x 2 1/8" tall (6 x 5 cm) |
$95.00 Crocodile and lizard motif disk beads
item #148Ivory Coast - Baule The price is per gram. This is the price for all of our gold beads, whatever their size. The figurative pieces are not priced by weight, rather by their design, quality of execution, etc. Please contact us for specific bead weights and prices. | $600.00 Crocodile goldweight
item #841Ivory Coast - Baule 2 1/2" (6.4 cm) |
$125.00 Cross design gold weight
item #854Ivory Coast - Baule 1 5/16 x 15/16" (3.3 x 2.3 cm) | $125.00 Disk top pyramid gold weight
item #850Ivory Coast - Baule 15/16 x 15/16 x 1 3/8" tall (2.3 x 2.4 x 3.3 cm tall) |
$125.00 Disk top pyramid gold weight
item #848Ivory Coast - Baule 5/8 x 5/8 x 1 5/16" tall (1.5 x 1.5 x 3.2 cm tall) | $125.00 Disk top pyramid gold weight
item #849Ivory Coast - Baule 13/16 x 14/16 x 1 3/16" tall (2.1 x 2.2 x 2.9 cm tall) |
$750.00 Divination gong
item #220Ivory Coast - Baule 14 1/2" tall. Click on the photo for a closeup of the top. The other side of the top has a mask almost identical to the side shown. | $950.00 Divination gong
item #223Ivory Coast - Baule 22" tall. Click on the photo for a closeup of the top. |
$150.00 Double gong design goldweight
item #864Ivory Coast - Baule 2" (5.2 cm) | $2500.00 Elephant base authentic wari game
item #918Ivory Coast - Baule 28 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 7 1/2" (72.4 x 16.5 x 19 cm) |
$400.00 Elephant fetish figure
item #304Ivory Coast - Baule 10 x 6" | $950.00 Exceptional elephant tail motif goldweight
item #832Ivory Coast - Baule 3 13/16 x 1 5/16" (9.5 x 3.3 cm) |
$125.00 Fan design goldweight
item #858Ivory Coast - Baule 2 1/16 x 1 1/8" (5.2 x 2.8 cm) | $150.00 Fan design goldweight
item #859Ivory Coast - Baule 1 7/8 x 1 3/16" (4.8 x 3.7 cm) |
$450.00 Fetish animal figure
item #795Ivory Coast - Baule 10". Please click on the image for a view of the other side and a closeup of this fine old, authentic wood figure. | $300.00 Fetish figure
item #305Ivory Coast - Baule 12 1/2" long. Please click on the image to see another view of this exceptional authentic wooden double chameleon fetish figure. |
$175.00 Fetish figure
item #117Ivory Coast - Baule 6" tall. Genuine. | $7500.00 Fine detail mask pendant
item #684Ivory Coast - Baule 2 1/2" tall (6 cm) |
$289.00 Fine quality traditional masks
item #729Ivory Coast - Baule 11 1/2" tall, this mask is a very unusual while completely traditional style of Baule mask. Please click on the image to view another traditional style Baule mask with a painted red face, 16" tall. | $1500.00 Full size door
item #194Ivory Coast - Baule This is a beautiful reproduction. |
$50.00 Geometric goldweight
item #833Ivory Coast - Baule 1 3/16 x 13/16" (3 x 2 cm) | $50.00 Geometric goldweight
item #837Ivory Coast - Baule 15/16 x 14/16" (2.3 x 2 cm) |
$75.00 Geometric goldweight
item #839Ivory Coast - Baule 1 1/4 x 3/4" (3.1 x 1.8 cm) | $50.00 Geometric goldweight
item #840Ivory Coast - Baule 1 1/8 x 1 3/16" (3 x 2.7 cm) |
$50.00 Goldweight
item #855Ivory Coast - Baule 11/16 x 12/16" (1.7 x 1.7 cm) | $1425.00 Large biconal bead
item #944Ivory Coast - Baule 15 grams @ $95/g |
$1045.00 Large biconal bead
item #945Ivory Coast - Baule 11 grams @ $95/g | $1425.00 Large biconal bead
item #946Ivory Coast - Baule 15 grams @ $95/g |
$1615.00 Large biconal bead
item #947Ivory Coast - Baule 17 grams @$95/g | $1950.00 Leopard stool
item #540Ivory Coast - Baule 31 1/2" long, 13" tall. Please click on the image to view the other side of this extraordinary sculptural object, and a closeup of it. |
$500.00 Leopard stool
item #811Ivory Coast - Baule 10 3/4 x 8 3/4 x 9 3/4" tall | $2500.00 lion design authentic wari game
item #910Ivory Coast - Baule 23 x 5 1/2 x 6 1/2" (58.4 x 14 x 16.5 cm) |
$20.00 long old bone beads
item #411Ivory Coast - Baule These fine old narrow bone beads are about 4 1/4" long. | $7000.00 Long-haired Baule mask pendant
item #683Ivory Coast - Baule 2 1/2" tall (6 cm) |
$125.00 Loop top pyramid gold weight
item #846Ivory Coast - Baule 7/8 x 7/8 x 1 5/16" tall (2.1 x 2.2 x 3.2 cm tall) | $450.00 Male figure
item #258Ivory Coast - Baule 18" |
$49.00 Medicine pestles
item #532Ivory Coast - Baule These small pestles are used to grind medicinal and ritual ceremonial products. All are old and used. They measure from 2 3/4 to 5" in length, generally. We have a large variety of them. | $1750.00 Mother and child
item #206Ivory Coast - Baule 8 " |
$500.00 Mouse oracle
item #254Ivory Coast - Baule 16" tall. | $300.00 Naked male goldweight
item #279Ivory Coast - Baule 2" tall. Erotic themes are expressed in every medium of African art, including the accessories used in commerce. This is a genuine goldweight, having been made exclusively for use by Africans and used for a long time by the intended recipients. It was not made for sale. Please click on the image for another view of this fine piece. |
$95.00 New brass elephant fetish figure
item #338Ivory Coast - Baule 7" long x 4" tall. Reproduction. Click on the image to see 2 smaller versions of this type of item, the small one measures 3 1/2" long x 2" tall, $65. and the smallest one is 1 3/4 x 1 1/2", $45. | $225.00 Old Baule passport masks
item #763Ivory Coast - Baule The overall height of this piece is 6". |
$250.00 Old brass chameleon hairpick
item #744Ivory Coast - Baule 7 1/3" long. Please click on the image to see the full object. | $395.00 Old brass elephant fetish pendant
item #337Ivory Coast - Baule 6" long, 3 1/2" tall. Genuine, not made for sale. |
$400.00 Old chameleon and man pendantSOLD 
item #741Ivory Coast - Baule 3 1/3" wide. | $1800.00 Old colonial figure
item #27Ivory Coast - Baule "Colonial" figures are spirit mates in the form of Europeans. The Baule people believe that an invisible universe exists parallel to ours, in which every person on earth has a mate, ascribed to him or her automatically within that spiritual realm. It is that world of the spirits that controls all life on earth. So when any individual has any kind of problem, be it psychological, physical, social (i.e., a conflict with another person) it can be resolved within the spirit world. The conduit through which humans communicate with that world is the spirt mate of that person. The first time a person has such a problem he or she might visit the tribal healer who will suggest that the suffering person elicit the help of a carver to create a representation of the mate that person has in the spirit world. This gives the person the ability to relate more personally and directly to that spirit mate. When the women, in the cases of these 3 figures, described their other-world mates to the carver to embody them, they revealed their ideal mates as manifesting these European characteristics. This figure is from Boganda, 14 1/2" tall, circa 1950. Note the small gold bead around the neck of this figure. Such gold pieces are often used to adorn objects of spiritual value in order to increase their usefulness, their power. Please click on this photo to see other views of this extraordinary and genuine object. Please see below for a closeup view of the face of this very beautiful figure. |
$250.00 Old copper chameleon pendant
item #831Ivory Coast - Baule 1 5/8" (4 cm) | $1450.00 Old detailed design pipe
item #205Ivory Coast - Baule 7" long, from Ouelikoro, ca. 1966. I bought this piece together with the seated chief figure and the seated mother and child of the same origin. The dealer from whom I bought these had obtained them all together from a single owner. |
$450.00 Old drummer figure
item #132Ivory Coast - Baule From the village of Ganada, circa 1985, 7" tall | $5950.00 Old fetish
item #87Ivory Coast - Baule My supplier in Ivory Coast told me this figure is from the village of Guirilan and dates to circa 1900. The distinguished professor of Art History and renowned African art expert, Roy Sieber, personally authenticated this statue for me just 5 months before he passed away. However, Roy doubts it is as old as my supplier told me it is. It is 18" tall. Click photo for a closeup. |
$4000.00 Old forest spirit couple
item #81Ivory Coast - Baule Circa 1890, 11" and 12" tall, from the village of Beoumi. Click on the photo for more views. | $50.00 Old goldweights - all types
item #109Ivory Coast - Baule Geometric were used for centuries to weigh gold and are all at least 100 years old since the practice of using gold as a common unit of exchange ended about 100 years ago. Please click on the image to view two more photos and two more types of old goldweights. The second photo shows a group of assorted goldweights, all $25 each. These are more ordinary in shape but have specific weights and were as useful as the more intricate weights. The third photo shows two shield figurative goldweights, both priced at $175 each. |
$200.00 Old head pipe
item #287Ivory Coast - Baule This well patinated old pipe measures 4" long. | $600.00 Old heddle pulleys, mounted
item #236Ivory Coast - Baule The first of these genuine, old pulleys, incorporated into the design of the most common loom used all over West Africa, measures 8",mounted. Click on the photo to see another: 11 1/2" $750. Both of these have been SOLD. |
$2950.00 Old mask fragment from Afare
item #230Ivory Coast - Baule 11 1/2" overall mounted height; the mask is 9 1/2" tall. Circa 1840. This mask was authenticated by the late, renowned African art authority, Roy Sieber, just 5 months prior to his death in 2001. Although Dr. Sieber confirmed its authenticity he did not verify its age. My supplier in Africa claimed it was this old but Dr. Sieber believes it is probably 100 years newer. | $250.00 Old single chameleon pendant
item #740Ivory Coast - Baule 1 9/16" (4 cm) Please click on the image to see the reverse side of this very old, worn pendant. |
$150.00 Old slingshot
item #252Ivory Coast - Baule This slingshot is 7", mounted on lucite. | $125.00 Old wood bowl pipe
item #289Ivory Coast - Baule This pipe is 6" long. |
$345.00 Old wood turtle fetish
item #368Ivory Coast - Baule 15 1/2" long. Please click on the image for another view of this authentic, old, used object. | $600.00 Primitive motif mother with 2 children
item #390Ivory Coast - Baule Unlike many more realistic versions this is an unusually stylized, often called "primitive", rendition of this imagery ubiquitous among African tribal cultures. This measures 19" tall |
$75.00 Pyramid gold weight
item #845Ivory Coast - Baule 1 1/16 x 1 x 3/4" tall (2.6 x 2.6 x 1.8 cm tall) | $7500.00 Round repousse crocodile bead
item #685Ivory Coast - Baule 2 3/8 x 2 5/16" (6.1 x 5.8 cm) |
$300.00 Seated man-top mask
item #758Ivory Coast - Baule 16" tall. The merchant from whom I bought this mask told me that the man on top of this mask is President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the first and longest-serving president of Ivory Coast. He remains the most popular figure of modern Ivory Coast. | $750.00 Seated mother with one child
item #291Ivory Coast - Baule 20" tall. |
$1800.00 Second old colonial figure
item #481Ivory Coast - Baule This figure is from the village of Boganda, 10 1/2" tall, circa 1950. Please see the explanation included in the item entitled "old colonial figure", above. Please click on the image to see 2 more views of this great old object. Please see a closeup of the face of this figure at the bottom of this page by clicking on the image entitled "Closeups of the faces of 3 Baule colonial figures". | $150.00 Single chameleon fetish figure
item #306Ivory Coast - Baule 9 1/2" long. Please click on the image for another view of this authentic, old wooden chameleon fetish figure. |
$3000.00 Small Baule mask pendant
item #687Ivory Coast - Baule 1 1/8" tall (2.7 cm) | $5000.00 Small crocodile pendant
item #152Ivory Coast - Baule |
$1250.00 Small male figure
item #260Ivory Coast - Baule 10" tall, circa 1910, from the village of Ndodelikoro. Please click photo for a closeup | $1750.00 Small male figure
item #262Ivory Coast - Baule 13" tall, from Lepe, circa 1910. Click on photo for closeup. |
$1200.00 Small mask image stool
item #574Ivory Coast - Baule This old authentic stool is an unusual carved artifact. 10 1/2" height, 10 1/2" diameter. Please click for another view. | $250.00 Small old Baule knife
item #31Ivory Coast - Baule With old spiny oyster shell sheath |
$2950.00 small ram figure
item #688Ivory Coast - Baule 1 1/2" long x 1 3/16" tall (3.6 x 2.9 cm) Please click on the image for 2 more views of this fine little figure. | $7000.00 Smooth mask pendant
item #689Ivory Coast - Baule 2 1/2" tall x 1 3/4" wide (6.3 x 4.4 cm) Please click on the image for 2 more views of this fine old pendant. |
$1800.00 Snake design authentic wari game
item #916Ivory Coast - Baule 18 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 6 1/2" (47 x 14 x 16.5 cm) | $450.00 Spindle whorls
item #100Ivory Coast - Baule The price quoted above is for a strand of the large old Baule spindle whorls from Ivory Coast (on the left). The excellent quality reproductions of Dogon spindle whorls from Mali (on the right)are $150. per strand |
$7500.00 Square pendant with 2 masks
item #682Ivory Coast - Baule 2 1/8 x 1 3/4" (5.3 x 4.4 cm) | $95.00 Square tower pyramid gold weight
item #851Ivory Coast - Baule 1/2 x 1/2 x 3/4" tall (1.2 x 1.3 x 2 cm tall) |
$150.00 Sun design round goldweight
item #860Ivory Coast - Baule 1 1/8" diameter (2.8 cm) | $1000.00 Tall seated mother with 2 children
item #290Ivory Coast - Baule 30" tall. Please click on the photo to see the child holding on to his mother. |
$150.00 Tiny stool with Janus heads
item #261Ivory Coast - Baule 7 1/2" tall | $25.00 Tiny triangle goldweight
item #861Ivory Coast - Baule 9/16 x 11/16" (1.4 x 1.6 cm) |
$50.00 Triangle geometric goldweight
item #838Ivory Coast - Baule 1 5/16 x 1 1/8" (3.4 x 2.8 cm) | $125.00 Triangle geometric goldweight
item #853Ivory Coast - Baule 3/4 x 2 1/8" (1.8 x 5.3 cm) |
$125.00 Triangle pendant goldweight
item #862Ivory Coast - Baule 7/8 x 2 1/8" (2 x 5.2 cm) | $550.00 Turtle eagle proverb figure
item #342Ivory Coast - Baule Africans have a plethora of proverbs. It is common for an artist of any medium to incorporate any of those proverbs in his art. The eagle represents power or a powerful person. The turtle represents the common people. The proverb essentially says that each has qualities which give it value, that they are equal. The eagle cannot hurt the shell of the turtle. This is a genuine object, carved in great detail. It would have been covered with gold leaf and the gold either removed before it was sold or it wore off, or a combination of both. It measures 8 1/2" tall. Please click on the image to see 2 closeups both of which show vestiges of the gold leaf that used to cover the entire piece. |
$300.00 Very old and worn chameleon pendant
item #857Ivory Coast - Baule 1.6 x 1.1" (4.2 x 2.9 cm) | $45.00 Very tiny stool gold weight
item #852Ivory Coast - Baule 3/8 x 1/2 x 3/8" tall (.9 x 1.2 x .9 cm tall) |
$1800.00 Wedding spoons
item #62Ivory Coast - Baule The male spoon, mounted is 10 1/2" tall, circa 1965, from Ndolikoro. | $1800.00 Woman design authentic wari game
item #909Ivory Coast - Baule 19 x 6 1/2" (48.3 x 16.5 cm) |
$900.00 wood slippers
item #534Ivory Coast - Baule These very old and very intricately carved wooden slippers would have been used by Baule royalty and would have been covered with gold leaf, at least the front part covering the toes. They are the full size of a foot, having actually been worn on ceremonial occasions. Please click on the image for another view of these very unusual objects. These are the only ones I have ever seen. |
text and images copyright 2010 Niger Bend