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Cowrie Art

Ancestral Dan Mask 'Deangle' with Cowrie Shells Large
Ancestral Dan Mask 'Deangle' with Cowrie Shells Large

Ancestral Dan Mask 'Deangle' with Cowrie Shells Large

Located in Torquay, GB

Large sized Dan Mask ('Deangle', 'Dan Gle') from Côte d’Ivoire W.Affrica, circa early 20th century. To the Dan people, the 'Deangle' embodies the spirit of an individual ancestor d...

Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique Yoruba Devotional Staff with Bird Symbol and Cowrie Embellishment
Antique Yoruba Devotional Staff with Bird Symbol and Cowrie Embellishment

Antique Yoruba Devotional Staff with Bird Symbol and Cowrie Embellishment

Located in Nottingham, GB

Historically valued throughout West Africa as a form of currency, cowries came to embody concepts of wealth, fertility, abundance, and divine favour.

Category

20th Century Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak
Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak

Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Yoruba female figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak. an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with very piercing eyes, and great detailed hat.. A fine...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak
Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak

Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Yoruba female figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak. an Ibeji or twin figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with ve...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak
Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak

Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Yoruba male figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak. an Ibeji or twin figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with very...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Namji Doll with Beads, Cowries, Coins and Metal Rings, Cameroon Mid 20th century
Namji Doll with Beads, Cowries, Coins and Metal Rings, Cameroon Mid 20th century

Namji Doll with Beads, Cowries, Coins and Metal Rings, Cameroon Mid 20th century

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Sometimes referred to as dolls, this is a highly abstract figure with conical head, arms and legs held out from body, long columnar neck wrapped with mulitple strands of different si...

Category

Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Bogolan Cowrie Shell Mud Cloth Textile
Bogolan Cowrie Shell Mud Cloth Textile

Bogolan Cowrie Shell Mud Cloth Textile

Located in Chicago, IL

Commonly known as Bogolan or Bògòlanfini, this cotton textile was hand spun, handwoven, then dyed through a technique that has been passed down in the Bamana region of Mali for centu...

Category

20th Century Malian Folk Art Pillows and Throws

Materials

Cotton

Bogolan Cowrie Shell Mud Cloth Textile
Bogolan Cowrie Shell Mud Cloth Textile

Bogolan Cowrie Shell Mud Cloth Textile

Located in Chicago, IL

Commonly known as Bogolan or Bògòlanfini, this cotton textile was hand spun, handwoven, then dyed through a technique that has been passed down in the Bamana region of Mali for centu...

Category

20th Century Malian Folk Art Pillows and Throws

Materials

Cotton

Folk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s Sasak
Folk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s Sasak

Folk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s Sasak

Located in London, GB

Sasak Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie & Painted Palm 1950’s Handwoven and richly adorned, this 1950’s Sasak dowry box from Lombok, Indonesia, captures the ceremonial artistry of...

Category

Vintage 1920s Indonesian Folk Art Decorative Boxes

Materials

Other

Folk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s Sasak
Folk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s Sasak

Folk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s Sasak

Located in London, GB

Sasak Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie & Painted Palm 1950’s Handwoven and richly adorned, this 1950’s Sasak dowry box from Lombok, Indonesia, captures the ceremonial artistry of...

Category

Vintage 1950s Indonesian Folk Art Decorative Boxes

Materials

Other

Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s
Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s

Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm & Bamboo 1950’s

Located in London, GB

Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Sasak, Cowrie & Painted Palm 1950’s Handwoven and richly adorned, this 1950’s Sasak dowry box from Lombok, Indonesia, captures the ceremonial artistry o...

Category

Vintage 1920s Indonesian Folk Art Decorative Boxes

Materials

Other

Recent Sales

Two Yoruba Tribe twin Figures with Cowrie Cloaks, Nigeria
Two Yoruba Tribe twin Figures with Cowrie Cloaks, Nigeria

Two Yoruba Tribe twin Figures with Cowrie Cloaks, Nigeria

Located in Santa Fe, NM

Two well-loved Yoruba twin figures "ibeji" with cloaks made of cowrie shells on cloth, Nigeria, early 20th century. Images show them with and without their cowrie cloaks. Heavy wear ...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Twin Figures with Cowrie Cloaks, Nigeria, Africa, Early 20th Century
Yoruba Twin Figures with Cowrie Cloaks, Nigeria, Africa, Early 20th Century

Yoruba Twin Figures with Cowrie Cloaks, Nigeria, Africa, Early 20th Century

Located in Santa Fe, NM

Two twin figures "ibeji", wearing cloaks covered with cowrie shells, Yoruba People, Nigeria, Africa, early 20 century. Cowrie shells were a type of currency in West Africa, and when ...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Chinese Cowrie Shell Beaded Vest on Stand
Chinese Cowrie Shell Beaded Vest on Stand

Chinese Cowrie Shell Beaded Vest on Stand

Sold

H 23 in W 11.75 in D 4.75 in

Chinese Cowrie Shell Beaded Vest on Stand

Located in Troy, MI

Circa 1920s Chinese vest of woven fiber is beaded with cowry shells and mounted on a custom made iron stand.

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Textiles

Materials

Shell

"Natty Dreads" mixed media portrait of a Black woman with cowrie shell headband
"Natty Dreads" mixed media portrait of a Black woman with cowrie shell headband

"Natty Dreads" mixed media portrait of a Black woman with cowrie shell headband

By Janice Frame

Located in Edgartown, MA

"As an African-American artist in today’s world, I embody the vast differences found in our collective backgrounds. I view them as cultural assets. We are always self discovering and...

Category

2010s Mixed Media

Materials

Acrylic, Handmade Paper, Resin, Mixed Media

"Honor My World" mixed media portrait of a woman with cowrie shells and branches

"Honor My World" mixed media portrait of a woman with cowrie shells and branches

By Janice Frame

Located in Edgartown, MA

"As an African-American artist in today’s world, I embody the vast differences found in our collective backgrounds. I view them as cultural assets. We are always self discovering and...

Category

2010s Portrait Paintings

Materials

Resin, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Handmade Paper

People Also Browsed

Fernand Leger, Untitled, from Circus, 1950
Fernand Leger, Untitled, from Circus, 1950

Fernand LégerFernand Leger, Untitled, from Circus, 1950, 1950

$1,996Sale Price|20% Off

H 16.63 in W 12.69 in

Fernand Leger, Untitled, from Circus, 1950

By Fernand Léger

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Fernand Leger (1881–1955), titled Sans titre (Untitled), from the album Cirque, Lithographies Originales (Circus, Original Lithographs), originates from ...

Category

1950s Cubist Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Expressive Early Classic Cubist Dan Mask Early 20th Century Liberia, ex Sothebys
Expressive Early Classic Cubist Dan Mask Early 20th Century Liberia, ex Sothebys

Expressive Early Classic Cubist Dan Mask Early 20th Century Liberia, ex Sothebys

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Expressive early classic cubist Dan mask with refined expressive look, narrow open eyes and mouth and fine line scarification marks around outside of face. Created early 20th century...

Category

Early 20th Century Liberian Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat
20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat

Located in Berlin, DE

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorative Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably century The face mask has a device for hanging. Very d...

Category

20th Century African Masks

Materials

Wood

Mid 20th Century Hand Carved African Fertility Mask, Akan People
Mid 20th Century Hand Carved African Fertility Mask, Akan People

Mid 20th Century Hand Carved African Fertility Mask, Akan People

Located in Ottawa, Ontario

A very decorative fertility mask by the Baule tribe, associated with the Akan people who live both in Ghana and in the Ivory Coast. The sides with three small holes on either side pr...

Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

Mende Women's Helmet Mask
Mende Women's Helmet Mask

Mende Women's Helmet Mask

$1,280

H 15 in W 7.5 in D 10 in

Mende Women's Helmet Mask

Located in Chicago, IL

This helmet mask created by the Mende people of Sierra Leone was made for the women of their tribe to wear while dancing. Commissioned by women for their initiation ceremonies, the m...

Category

Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art
20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art

20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art

Located in Berlin, DE

20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably century Very decorative. Comes from a Berlin private collection.

Category

20th Century African Masks

Materials

Wood

Fine Yoruba Ibeji Female Pair African Tribal Art
Fine Yoruba Ibeji Female Pair African Tribal Art

Fine Yoruba Ibeji Female Pair African Tribal Art

$512 / set

H 10.63 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in

Fine Yoruba Ibeji Female Pair African Tribal Art

Located in London, GB

Good of female Yoruba Ibeji Figures Finely carved in dense wood with linear decoration to the body Nigeria Period Early 20th century Size: 27 and 25 cm Condition: Good Fine...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Art

Materials

Hardwood

Antique African Carved Toma Landai Tribal Ceremonial Mask Guinea Art Horns
Antique African Carved Toma Landai Tribal Ceremonial Mask Guinea Art Horns

Antique African Carved Toma Landai Tribal Ceremonial Mask Guinea Art Horns

Located in Dayton, OH

Early antique hand carved Toma or Landai mask from Guinea, Africa. “These brooding, often quite large, masks represent a forest spirit, Landai. Masks like these were used by the men'...

Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Masks

Materials

Raffia, Hardwood

Kuba Mask African Bwoom Tribal Congo in Wood, Vibrates Vegetables, Animal Hair
Kuba Mask African Bwoom Tribal Congo in Wood, Vibrates Vegetables, Animal Hair

Kuba Mask African Bwoom Tribal Congo in Wood, Vibrates Vegetables, Animal Hair

$2,795Sale Price|20% Off

H 11.82 in W 9.45 in D 15.75 in

Kuba Mask African Bwoom Tribal Congo in Wood, Vibrates Vegetables, Animal Hair

Located in Milano, IT

The African Kuba Bwoom tribal mask is the oldest known mask, the Kuba bwoom mask. The materials used for the realization of the Mask are: Wood, colors and vibrates plants, caures, be...

Category

Antique 1620s Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Animal Skin, Organic Material, Wood

African Tribal Mask with Spears, Brass and Hardwood, Cameroon, 1990s
African Tribal Mask with Spears, Brass and Hardwood, Cameroon, 1990s

African Tribal Mask with Spears, Brass and Hardwood, Cameroon, 1990s

$2,678Sale Price / set|53% Off

H 29.53 in Dm 14.18 in

African Tribal Mask with Spears, Brass and Hardwood, Cameroon, 1990s

Located in Ljubljana, SI

African Mask with Spears 90s. It is a rare set. Carved from one piece. Spears are ultra light - height 152 cm.

Category

1990s Cameroonian Tribal Masks

Materials

Brass

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat
20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat

Located in Berlin, DE

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorative Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably 20th century The face mask has a device for hanging. V...

Category

20th Century African Masks

Materials

Wood

Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950
Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950

Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950

$1,630

H 14.38 in W 5.71 in D 5.71 in

Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950

Located in Paris, FR

The Senoufo people inhabit areas spanning southern Mali, southern Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. They are organized around the poro, a male initiation system where young b...

Category

Vintage 1950s Ivorian Folk Art Masks

Materials

Wood

Salampasu Mask – DR Congo – Mid 20th Century – African Tribal Art
Salampasu Mask – DR Congo – Mid 20th Century – African Tribal Art

Salampasu Mask – DR Congo – Mid 20th Century – African Tribal Art

Located in Ljubljana, SI

Discover the soul of Africa through this authentic Salampasu mask from DR Congo, handcrafted in the mid-20th century. Part of a carefully curated collection sourced from private home...

Category

Vintage 1950s Congolese Tribal Masks

Materials

Hardwood

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat
20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat

Located in Berlin, DE

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorative Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably 20th century The face mask has a device for hanging. V...

Category

20th Century African Masks

Materials

Wood

Dan Mask from Ivory Coast, Africa, 1950
Dan Mask from Ivory Coast, Africa, 1950

Dan Mask from Ivory Coast, Africa, 1950

Located in Buffalo, NY

Dan Mask from Ivory Coast, Africa,, MID 20TH CENTURY.. gREAT COLOR / PATINA..

Category

Vintage 1950s Ivorian Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

Dan-Guéré Mask, fist half of the XXth century
Dan-Guéré Mask, fist half of the XXth century

Dan-Guéré Mask, fist half of the XXth century

$6,406

H 9.65 in W 8.27 in D 7.09 in

Dan-Guéré Mask, fist half of the XXth century

Located in Paris, FR

The Dan, a sub-tribe of the Dan-Nguere, inhabit eastern Liberia, Guinea Conakry, and Côte d'Ivoire. Their social and spiritual structure is based on the secret society Poro, which me...

Category

Early 20th Century Ivorian Art Deco Masks

Materials

Bronze

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Cowrie Art For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the piece of cowrie art you’re looking for. Was constructed with extraordinary care, often using shell, wood and fabric. If you’re shopping for an item from our selection of cowrie art, we have 15 options in-stock, while there are 1 modern editions to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the choice in our collection of cowrie art you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 19th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. An object in our assortment of cowrie art is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in folk art styles are sought with frequency. Naga People and Phaidon each produced at least one beautiful option in this array of cowrie art that is worth considering.

How Much is a Cowrie Art?

A piece of cowrie art can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $2,550, while the lowest priced sells for $293 and the highest can go for as much as $22,500.