African Tribal Art Highlighted in Jasper52 Auction on Aug. 21

Nearly 40 hand-carved wooden African tribal masks are featured in an Aug. 21 no reserve, online-only auction delivered by Jasper52.

Lot 37 is a colorful wooden mask carved by the Teke people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tribal members responsible for organizing celebrations and sacred rituals are often the wearers of the Teke masks. This example of a Teke mask (above) enters with an estimate of $200-$300.

The large (18 1/2 inches high by 10 inches wide) mask featured in Lot 10 is a Bamileke Mask from Cameroon. The Bamileke people also donned masks during rituals and celebrations including: planting and harvesting seasons and at the beginning of annual hunts. This large-scale mask (below) has an estimate of $500-$600.

The Kuba cloth featured in Lot 43 (below) is one of four such art textiles in this auction. It features various geometric shapes, which are commonly represented in Kuba cloth weavings. It has been said that the patterns depicted in textiles made by the Kuba people serve as inspiration for artists of the modernism movement. Its estimate is $300-$400.

The people of the Yaka tribe reside in the southwestern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A number of carved wooden items, like the gong presented in Lot 41, are utilized for various purposes. The gong measures 11 inches high by 2 1/4 inches wide and has an estimate of $200-$300.

Lot 42 is one of two fertility dolls offered in Sunday’s auction. Namji dolls like the one pictured here are given to young females of the Namji tribe of Cameroon. The hand-carved dolls were most often adorned with beads, metal rings, shells, and other materials. Not only are the dolls ceremonially presented to assure fertility, but also as a means of teaching young females to care for the doll as they would a baby. This doll (below) has an estimate of $200-$300.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live on LiveAuctioneers.