🔎 department:"Art of Africa and the Americas" | Mia

Visit Art of Africa and the Americas

The Arts of Africa and the Americas Department is dedicated to the immense creativity of Native peoples across the world, from prehistory to the present. The collection has grown significantly since the department was founded more than thirty years ago, and now numbers more than 3,000 objects, including masterworks of sculpture, ceramics, metalsmithing, painting, basketry, and bead-, shell-, and quillwork, reflecting the diversity of these regions and cultures.

Shrine head, Yoruba — Shrine head, 12th-14th century
Yoruba

G250

Bowman riding a horse both set on a hollowed spherical support. Radio carbon dated to 945-1235 A.D. — Equestrian figure, about 1450
Djenne

G250

tusk, ivory, Benin Culture, Nigeria, Africa, XVIII c.; a rare ivory tusk from the Kingdom of Benin, finely carved with the figures of warriors, serpents, etc.; the inclusion of the carved figure of the Oba or King, represented with its traditional mudfish, instead of legs, denotes that this was one of the Royal tusks which stood in the great bronze heads on the altar of the Oba's ancestors — Tusk, 1775-1777
Edo

G250

bis pole, mangrove wood, New Guinea, Asmat — Bis Pole, 20th century
Asmat (Bismam group)

G256

Leopard Aquamanile, Bronze, Benin Culture, Africa, XVIIc; covered with incised spots and smnall punch marks. Rare example. — Water pitcher, 18th century
Edo

G250

ear studs, pair, of hammered and engraved gold; the concave disks with beaded edges are decorated with an applied motif bearing four figures; above, a demi-god with elaborate aureloe headdress riding on a bar borne by three other figures; in one hand he holds a beaker-cup; in the other a bag adorned with loose bangles; two of the lower figures wear modified aureole headdresses and carry beakers; all are half-human, half-beast; the bar on which the demi-god rides is finished at the ends with demon heads; loose bangles are variously applied in the design; the tubes of the ear studs are decorated with engraved bands of cats and birds, and soldered to the backs of discs — Ear Spool, c. 1150-1450
Chimu

G260

Nkisi Nkonde (nail fetish); a fetish figure in wood; the surface is covered with a variety of accoutrements: nails, reed, shells, bone, wood, string and clay; the 'magic' receptacle in the abdominal area bears a mirror — Power figure, early 20th century
Kongo

G250

carved wood, standing male figure; hair bound in a topknot; inlaid paua shell eyes; larger scale head, face adorned with tattooing; arms akimbo and large hands spread over abdomen; raised disc belly button; erect penis; raffia loin cloth in separate vitrine — Post Figure (poutokomanawa), c. 1840
Ngāti Kahungunu Māori

G256

beaded panel with geometric design at bottom of bag; fringe with strung beads and red tassels; simple quillwork design of flowers on body of bag — Man's Pouch, c. 1800
Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) or Dakhóta

G259

wood frieze carved with birds whose eyes are made of green turbo shell opercula; painted serpents wind their way across the relief; covered with lime and painted in red, black, and white pigments; carved for use in the Malanggan rites when it would be placed in a special hut with other sculptures — Malagan Frieze, 19th century
Papua New Guinea

G256

standing figure with panpipes encircled by serpents and birds; wood with opercula inserts and pigments; carved for Malanggan rites — Malagan Figure, c. 1890
Papua New Guinea

G256

human face with long ears; open mouth with teeth; red linear designs — Mask, c. 900-300 BCE
Olmec

G260

ritual beadwork with face and sixteen birds mounted on the crown; long fringe hangs from crown — Crown, about 1920
Yoruba

G250

Coffin representing a rock lobster with five pairs of jointed limbs, two long antennae, which are hinged, and two paired feelers on top. It is painted a green color with six white and black stripes around the body, orange and white paint at sides, and light-purple painted anntenae. The upper body is covered in spines and has a rough texture. — Fantasy coffin, 1993
Sowah Kwei

G250

Large pot with flaring midsection and tapering shoulder; decorated with incised textured half-circles below mouth and band of leaf-like shapes alternating with 4 triangles between 3 textured bands — Beer pot, mid 20th century
Zulu

G236

Coffin of Lady Tashat, Ancient Egyptian — Coffin of Lady Tashat, 945-712 BCE
Ancient Egyptian

G250

Western style coat with outward flaring skirt at bottom; small rectangular flap at back of neck; black, red, tan and light grey geometric painted symmetrical designs; cuffs on sleeves; light-colored hide; no closures — Hunting Coat, c. 1750
Innu (Naskapi)

Not on View

Gope board, Papua New Guinea — Gope board, 18th century
Papua New Guinea

Not on View

Mallangan, wood and pigments — Malagan Pole, c. 1910
Papua New Guinea

G256

mask with seven radiating triangular pieces of metal; large eyes, rimmed in green; flat bridge of nose extends downward into mouth; orange, black and white marks on face — Sun Mask, c. 1860
Kwakwaka'wakw

G261

kneeling or crouching figure with arms at sides; face jutting forward; frowning expression; knot on top of head, PR side — Pipe, c. 1200
Mississippian

G260

Dance Mask; Carved in the round from a single piece of lightweight wood. Interior hollow. Features remarkable in that they resemble Greek and Sicilian works of the 6th Century B.C. The back of the mask, carved in terrace and striated patterns, contrasts with the smooth lateral contours of the face. — Helmet mask, 19th century
Luba

Not on View

head (male) wearing thick collar up to lower lip; openwork caplike headdress with hanging braids and beaded cords around ears; two "beads" on forehead; flower-like beaded elements at temples--one at PR ear, two at PL ear; open circle at top of head — Memorial head, 1550-1650
Edo

G250

four horizontal panels with multiple figures in various poses: standing, riding bicycles, riding animals, seated; incised horizontal bars divide panels — Palace door, early 20th century
Areogun of Osi

Not on View

Tripod effigy vessel, large, with the head of a jaguar in high relief. Two legs, finished at the base of the neck with rigid ring handles formed of the jaguar's front legs, represent the hind legs and are pierced and contain pellets. The third support, in the form of a flattened tail, emerges from the back of the vessel. The jaguar head, an oblong, bib-like area below, the legs, and a wide band at the throat, are painted in polychrome with geometric designs on an orange ground. High polish. — Vessel, c. 1100 - 1200 CE
Guanacaste

G260

figure wears a replica of a heavy stone yoke at waist over skirt with fret motif; necklace; bands of bracelets on left arm; headdress broken at right. On the left knee a nead with round headdress in relief. Hole in right shoulder forms hook from which rattle could be suspended. The mould for front of body is well designed but assembled crudely with the mould for back.; Pinkish white pottery — Figure, c. 600-750 CE
Nopiloa (Veracruz)

G260

X-ray of Lady Tashat is at column in Paintings racks in MS — Cartonnage of Lady Tashat, 945-712 BCE
Ancient Egyptian

G250

Citwamo Ca Mangu (Throne), Moxico School — Citwamo Ca Mangu (Throne), 20th century
Moxico School

G250

Carved stone yoke with design of a crouching man, his head in the jaws of a monster, gripping a snake. The corners are finished with men's heads in monster's jaws. Serpentine. — Yoke, c. 600-900
Nopiloa (Veracruz)

G260

vessel with handle, surmounted by female head; opening of vessel is through top of figure's headdress; surface has glossy appearance; dark clay body — Vessel, 20th century
Mangbetu

G236

reddish ceramic jar with incised decoration on four sides; groove design feature, around lip indicates the jar has a screw on cover — Chocolate Pot, c. 750
Maya

G260

quadruped animal form with four short, stubby legs; rounded body with sloping back; small, stubby tail; rounded head with opening roughly at mouth area; extremely heavy encrustations overall, with deep and heavy crackle throughout; brown, earth-colored, with a darker brown round area on PR side of head and in several areas on front legs and feet — Kono altar, second quarter of 20th century
Bamana

G250

Mende Society Mask, wood and raffia, Mende Tribe, Sierra Leone, Africa, XIX c. Msmt.s of helmet only. *Med.Raffia ?- Poss. Human Hair! — Sande mask, second quarter of 20th century
Mende

G254

Woven fabric — Belt, 19th-20th century
Morocco

Not on View

Latin Cross placed in front of wreath. Secondary design of alternating rosettes and leaf forms along vertical edges. Woven in Egypt about 5-6th century for church use, possibly as a sanctuary curtain. Plain weave with tapestry patterning. Pall with a Latin Cross. Woven fabric — Curtain, 5th-6th century
Coptic

Not on View

animal's head with squared-off snout; four tusks and six horns; diamond-shaped ears; encrusted patina-only small fragments of pigment remain — Mask, first half of 20th century
Senufo

Not on View

thin-walled large bowl; interior painted with spirals and other geometric designs in red — Bowl, c. 900-1200
Hohokam

G259

reclining male and female figures engaged in sexual intercourse; man wears headdress with two birds; body and face markings in white, brown, orange and yellow — Plaque, mid 20th century
Abelam

G256

Pendant, Veraguas — Pendant, c. 800 - 1100
Veraguas

G260

stone figure with red pigment stands on black wood base with hands touching index figure to thumb; face incised on either side with rectangular markings; headdress crowns figure with large ear ornaments; small drill hole in center of chest — Chalchiuhtlicue, c. 1200-1521
Aztec

G260

Helmet Mask, wood and hair, full head tilted slightly upwards, fully scarified face and geometrically shaven head. — Mask, 1950s
Makonde

G254

Chilkat blankets are woven by the women of the Chilkat branch of the Tlingit tribe, using patterns devised by Chilkat men. Warp is goat hair and yellow cedar bark twine. Dyes are dervived from hemlock bark, lichen and copper. Style and technique may be traced to the Tsimshian tribe. Fringe 20 inches on bottom, 8 inches on side. Catalog card: Gift of Mrs. Folwell W. Coan from the estate of Mrs. Eugene Carpenter. Mended 1974. — Chilkat dancing blanket (Naaxin), c. 1840-1890
Tlingit or Haida

Not on View

False door in the name of Iry-en-Akhet whose "beautiful name" is Iry. — False door, about 2400 BCE
Ancient Egyptian

G250

Tan vessel with a geometric design painted on with black pigment. — Pot (Olla), c. 1000-1300
Ancestral Pueblo

G259

Ear Spool, Spiro Mississippian — Ear Spool, c. 1200-1350
Spiro Mississippian

G260

Ear Spool, Spiro Mississippian — Ear Spool, c. 1100-1400
Spiro Mississippian

G260

House Group, the evening meal; polychrome; terra cotta group representing a two-story house with canopy roof on piles and 11 figures occupied with various household tasks on two levels an upper terace and a lower, enclosed room with a wide doorway; on each of two sides a stairway of five steps leads from the base to the upper level; the surface is decorated in polychrome (red, yellow, black) with geometric designs lozenges interlocked and wavy stripes; the piece is much weathered and has been extensively restored — House Group, c. 100-400
Nayarit

G260

Pot in form of Fish with a double spout handle rising from the back. Slight modelling on head, tail, and fin area. Other features painted in grey, black, yellow, red and white. Broken at tail; cracked around head. — Vessel in the Form of a Fish, c. 100 BCE - 600 CE
Nasca

G260

round bodied vessel with rounded bottom; handle with spout; decorated with incised stylized face made of geometric shapes, in black, yellow, red and white — Double spout Vessel, c. 900-200 BCE
Paracas

G260

1200-1350 A.D.; excavated at Temple Mound (LaFlore, OK) in 1940s — Gorget, c. 1200-1350
Spiro Mississippian

G260

Small seated dog with short pointed ears and a short tail, curling over on top; uneven incised eyes — Dog, c.100-300 CE
Colima

G260

knit brow, upper eyelid overhanging thin slit eyes, dark vertical smears on the cheeks; half-open mouth with one row of filed teeth; smooth face; traces of kaolin at the teeth, the hairline and around the nose; black, smooth, vertical crescent-shaped coiffure; black stripe down the forehead and on the eyebrows; red color on the lips; hole in each ear; hole at top of coiffure on each side (2nd hole on PR side) — Mask, late 19th century
Yombe

G250

Stirrup-handle jar in the form of an owl with a fat body. The face, plastically rendered, is painted buff color; the rest of the body is red and burnished. — Vessel, c. 200 BCE - 600 CE
Moche

G260

Transformation Mask, Richard Hunt — Transformation Mask, 1993
Richard Hunt

G261

ledger book of 16 drawings of various scenes — Book of Drawings, c. 1876
Bear's Heart

G261

capelette/shoulder covering made of strands of beads--red, blue and white--in loops from center to shoulders, front and back; shoulder pieces (reinforced with metal) with openwork thread and bead designs in black, blue, white and green beads with cowrie shells; hanging bead strands of red, dark blue and light blue beads at shoulders; central ornament on each side with blue and red bead strands, stuffed cotton cloth roll and iron loops — Woman's vest, c. 1970
Dinka

G254

Bird Head, carved basalt relief (called Hacha), El Tajin style — Hacha, c. 600-900 CE
Veracruz

G260

broad collar of blue faience beads, an extraordinarily large example of funerary jewelry typical of the middle kingdom; blue glazed faience. Both heads generally cracked and chipped at beak. — Broad collar, 2040-1783 BCE
Ancient Egyptian

G254

pouch and strap of finger-woven yarn in green and dark red with zigzag rows of white beads in fibers; beaded, tasseled and undecorated fringe at strap ends and bottom of bag; dark green pouch backing; blue and tan plaid backing on strap — Bandolier Bag, c. 1830-1850
Anishinaabe (Ojibwe)

G259

paddle-shaped with small hole in one end; back side smooth and curved; front side flat and carved with incised decoration of hatched lines forming irregular rows of diamonds; reddish brown — Ceremonial Bull Roarer, c. 1900
Aborigine

G256

Chief's chair, Asante — Chief's chair, 19th century
Asante

G250

Feather Currency (tevau), Solomon Islands — Feather Currency (tevau), 19th century
Solomon Islands

G256

Three figures as a support for a round top. PL figure is holding drum, center figure is on a horse and PR is female with a child on her back. Figures on irregularly shaped base. — Divination tray, mid 20th century
Yoruba

G254

Kapkap tortoise shell, giant clam — Kapkap, 19th century
Solomon Islands

G256

Elephant Mask, Bamileke — Elephant Mask, c. 1900
Bamileke

Not on View

large bowl with 2 scrolling handles with openwork triangles; 4 circular feet; geometric band carved at lip — Prestige Bowl (purukei), c. 1900
Admiralty Islands

G256

long cylinder, ends conical shaped; alligator stands along top facing drum surface; sets of triangular shapes adorn sides and bottom, used to support drum when rope is strung through; low relief carving over body and alligator painted with black field and white recesses — Hand drum (kundu), 20th century
Iatmul

G256

large door; carved jambs, lintel and central post on door; two complete rows remaining of large iron fasteners on door surface; only two remain in lower row; iron chain, plate and securing pin at top right center of door; four pins along center post on door — Door, mid 19th century
Swahili

G254

carved wood cup with straight handle; rounded cup has beaver and canoe carved on bottom; tapering two-part handle carved with scroll at end and rows of triangles — Belt Cup, c. 1830
Wendat (Huron)

G260

Round, smooth white shell with openwork tortoise shell attached to center of shell with a beaded cord (2 beads on front with string of beads on back) — Kapkap, 19th century
Solomon Islands

G256

Ptolomaic Period. Torso, inscribed later with the titles of Roman Emperor Commodus (reigned: 180-192 A.D.) inscription of left side. — Striding figure, 300-30 BCE
Ancient Egyptian

G250

Ptolemaic Ruler in the Guise of Hercules, Graeco-Egyptian — Ptolemaic Ruler in the Guise of Hercules, 2nd century BCE
Graeco-Egyptian

G242

triangular fragment decorated with rust-red and dark brown geometric stamps in 4 repeated rows on 2 sides; beige ground — Tapa Cloth, 1800-1825
United States

G256

figure, called Moai-Kava-Kava; toromiro wood — Moai Kavakava, 18th century
Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

G256

Mask, wood, painted, and feathers inserted in the outer edges; Inuit (Eskimo), Anvik From the Anvik area along the Yukon River. — Mask, 19th-20th century
Yup'ik

G260

simple, abstracted seated bird shape with large head; greenish-grey banded stone; holes on bottom — Bird stone, c. 1500-500 BCE
Archaic Woodlands

G260

Vessel with figure band painted around the outside and interior is painted as well. Red, brown and orange throughout. — Vase, c. 800 - 900 CE
Maya

G260

1200-1350 A.D.; excavated at Temple Mound (LaFlore, OK) in 1940s — Gorget, c. 1200-1350
Spiro Mississippian

G260

ocher, red, white and black pigment on eucalyptus bark panel (unmounted), panel divided into three areas by geometric motifs, each filled with similar compositions of suns, fish, plant and geometric motifs; the panel is somewhat rippled — Bark Painting with Suns, Fish and Plants, 20th century
Djunmal

G256

triptych; three panels of computer printout paper with side roller track intact; running horse with Native American rider, a running Euro-American is in front of horse, carrying a piece of paper with writing and saying the name of a Native American tribe; movement to the left — Anthropology: We're Not Your Indians Anymore, 1995
Wanbli Koyake

Not on View

Awatovi Birds, Dextra Quotskuyva — Awatovi Birds, 1990
Dextra Quotskuyva

G259

Ear Hangers coins, amber, and shells, green and yellow enamel — Ear pendants (tiboukaria), 1880-1900
Amazigh (Berber)

G254

salmon-colored terracotta; rounded bottom section with small flat foot; rather long, wide neck with asymmetrical forms with three points; tilted, diagonal wide rim — Vessel, 1985
Magdalene Odundo

G236

Basket woven with plant fiber and heavily beaded with black, white, orange, blue and red beads. Flared stem base with cone-shaped lid. Two straps cross over the top and are secured at sides. — Basket, early 20th century
Somalia

G254

standing female figure wearing short pleated yellow skirt, belt with tan disks, silver blouse, red and black bolero jacket, silver shoes, and silver necklace with flower or star pendant; woman has long black hair and wide eyes; body intertwined with one snake, another snake around woman's neck; attached black metal mount — Mami Wata figure, 1950s
Igbo

Not on View

top decorated with symmetrical design with scrolling edges; some cutouts in various shapes (teardrops, circles, quatrefoil, bar) inlaid with gold stamped with repeating circular patterns on front and back of comb; tapering teeth — Hair comb, about 1800
Swahili

Not on View

curved; each clapper in the shape of a thin human arm and hand with long, thin fingers; incised bracelets at each wrist with linear patterns; ivory colored with some tan spotting — Pair of clappers, about 1550-1292 BCE
Ancient Egyptian

G254

Yet Belt, leather, shells, beads, twine, Zaire, Kuba Tribe — Royal belt, mid 20th century
Kuba

Not on View

Morrison,'Collage IX Landscape',wood,U.S.XXc — Collage IX: Landscape, 1974
George Morrison

G259

Vase in the from of a chieftain with ear plugs and large headdress. Arms bound in back indicate the status of a prisoner. — Vessel, 6th-8th century
Moche

Not on View

Whistle in the form of a Dignitary; Island of Jaina style. Figure stands with arms crossed and feet spread well apart. The costume consists of a short, two-tiered skirt with a wide panel descending to feet in center front. Stylized hair with feathered headdress, pectoral, earrings. The face is well modelled, with arched nose and flattened brow. A whistle, modelled in left shoulder blade, makes clear musical note when blown. Painted in blue, red, black,and white. An unusually fine example. — Whistle, 600-900
Maya

Not on View

club with long, thin handle; head shaped like lotus blossom with incised decorations — Dance Club (gugu), 19th century
Fiji Islands

Not on View

elongated face; concave on back; spots and whiskers inlaid; leaf-shaped ears; open mouth with teeth and tongue visible; warm brown patina — Leopard Pendant, 17th-18th century
Benin

Not on View

mask with beak-like mouth, heavy brown brow and nose and round eyes of red, white and black; point at top of head with fringed crosspiece; black star on back of head — Eharo Dance Mask, before 1930s
Elema

Not on View

long shaft with raised, delineated handle; wedge-shaped head which comes to point; undecorated — Bird-head Club (goporowaramaru), 19th century
New Caledonia

Not on View

dark brown/black patina; vessel in bird's back; outstretched wings; second bird below backside of first bird; white shell inlay throughout in triangle, circle and butterfly shapes; very light weight — Ceremonial Bowl, c. 1890
Solomon Islands

Not on View

bird form, with long neck, long beak and protruding eyes; leaf-like wings; brown with white pigments on wings, eyes and mouth — Bird Headdress, 19th-early 20th century
Cameroon

Not on View

black and blue backing and trim; front of pouch and strap beaded overall with large, bright floral and leaf forms on white ground; beaded floral spray above pouch; blue squared-off linear border at pouch edges; transparent blue bead and blue yarn fringe — Bandolier Bag, 19th century
Anishinaabe (Ojibwe)

Not on View

standing figure with arms bent at elbows and forearms raised; long dark hair; large flat headdress with stepped edges; three 3-D hairpins on top of heard; tunic and skirt with patterned designs; rectangular eyes; diamond-shaped mouth; brilliant orange (especially on headdress), black, peach, yellow and light blue — Butterfly Maiden Kachina, 1880-1920
Hopituh Shinumu (Hopi)

Not on View

Basket, coiled grass and yucca fibers, American Indian (Hopi), XXc NO PHOTO ON CAT. CARD cat. card dims H 9-1/2' diam 9-3/4' in red, black and yellow stepped design — Basket, c. 1930
Hopituh Shinumu (Hopi)

Not on View

showing 100 of 5654 results matching department:"Art of Africa and the Americas". (load 200 more)