Les fils de l'oiseau-tonnerre

The Native American tribes dwelling on the Eastern coasts of North America were the first peoples on that continent to encounter European explorers at the end of the fifteenth century. They are often associated with images of tipis, totem poles and feathered headgear, but these images are misleading. Les fils de l'oiseau-tonnerre, a new exhibition at the Musée du Nouveau Monde in La Rochelle, France, explores the cultural differences between the tribes that lived in the area between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi. With more than a hundred objects from private and public collections, the exhibition explains how and where a wide variety of peoples lived, their religious concepts, and their interactions with other tribes as well as with Europeans. Les fils de l'oiseau-tonnerre is the first of a series of five installations focusing on Native American tribes, from East to West, that will be shown in the Museum in the coming years.

For more information, visit the exhibition's official website.

Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes

Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes, on view through September 8 at the Kimbell Art Museum in Forth Worth, Texas explores the artistic accomplishments of the Wari culture of Peru through some 140 works in polychrome ceramic, precious metals, mosaic, wood and stone, and more. Organized originally by the Cleveland Museum of Art, these works paint a picture of the Wari state and offer insights into their expansion strategies.

For more information, visit the exhibition's official website.

Images courtesy of the Kimbell Art Museum

Philippines, archipel des échanges

On view now at the Musée du Quai Branly is Philippines - Archipel des échanges, an exhibition that  brings together a selection of some 300 unique works of art from public collections in the Philippines, America, and Europe, as well as from private collections. Based on the geography of the archipelago, the installation encompasses two curatorial visions, one turned towards the mountains, the other looking out to sea, both presenting a civilization deeply affected by the central theme of exchange.

Visit the exhibition's official website.

Buckle -  Cagayan

Ritual box  -  Ifugao

Ceremonial textile  -  Mindanao

Spoon with figural finial  -  Ifugao

Rice god, bul'ul  -  Ifugao

Warrior gear  -  Bagobo

Images courtesy of the Musée du Quai Branly

Oceanic and African Art Sales at Christie's

On June 19, Christie's will present an impressive double sale of Oceanic and African art and artifacts in Paris.  Showcasing a wide array of sculptural treasures from West and Central Africa, Polynesia, and the Americas, the sales will also highlight a selection of very fine works from the Jolika Collection of New Guinea Art at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

For more information, view the online catalogues.

Roof figure  -  Biwat, Papua New Guinea

Serpent headdress  -  Baga, Guinea

Maternity figure  -  Dogon, Mali

Mask  -  Bamana, Mali

Female figure  -  Dogon, Mali

Commemorative figural group  -  Baham Kingdom, Cameroon

Images courtesy of Christie's

African Art Sale - Leclere

Auctioneers Leclere of Marseilles will present a sale of traditional art and artifacts from Africa on June 15. For more information on the assemblage of over 100 lots of figurative, ritual, and utilitarian art from the continent, view the online catalogue.

Ngil mask  -  Fang, Gabon

Shoulder mask  -  Baga, Guinea

Mask  -  We, Côte d'Ivoire

Mask  -  We, Côte d'Ivoire

Seated female figure  -  Senufo, Côte d'Ivoire

Images courtesy of Leclere

African and Oceanic Art Sale at Sotheby's

Sotheby's will present a sale of exquisite traditional art and artifacts from West and Central Africa, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, and many other geographical regions on June 18th in Paris.  

For more information, view the online catalogue.

Royal bowl  -  Yoruba, Nigeria

Primordial couple  -  Senufo, Côte d'Ivoire

Tatanua mask  -  New Ireland

Figural suspension hook  -  Iatmul, Papua New Guinea

Elephant hide mask  -  Lega, DR Congo

Mask  -  Fang, Gabon

Canoe prow ornament  -  Solomon Islands

Power figure  -  Suku, DR Congo

Images courtesy of Sotheby's

Highlights at Jacaranda Tribal - Madagascar Figural Staff

Bara of Mahafaly Staff  -  Madagascar

This sturdy, handsome staff is surmounted by a figure of profoundly sensitive bearing. Supple curves form the contours of this male figure's body, naturalistic in its design and held in a posture of inward-turned thoughtfulness. The figure is also noteworthy for its special details: an applied fabric loincloth, carved cap, and hair and eyes darkened with pokerwork. A rare piece, this staff was a valued prestige object and is a stunning example of Malagasy wood carving.

For more details on this piece and many more, visit www.jacarandatribal.com

African and Oceanic Art Sale at Native

Native Auctions of Brussels presents a sale of fine African and Oceanic art and artifacts today, June 8. Among the lots are an array of ritual artifacts, statuary, and ornaments from New Zealand, Burkina Faso, Vanuatu, Mali, Papua New Guinea, and many other locales.  

View the online catalogue.

Hei tiki  -  Maori, New Zealand

Altarpiece with figures  -  Dogon, Mali

Figure  -  Lobi, Burkina Faso

Slit drum  -  Ambrym, Vanuatu

Mask  -  Dan, Côte d'Ivoire

Images courtesy of Native Brussels

BRUNEAF 2013

The 23rd Brussels Non-European Art Fair will open on June 5 and run through June 9. As always, the illustrious event will feature the participation of well-known tribal art galleries from France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the USA, making the salon a thoroughly international experience.

For more details on the event and this year's participating dealers, visit the official BRUNEAF website.

Native American Art Auction at Bonhams

On June 3, Bonhams and Butterfields of San Francisco will hold a large sale of fine antiques and artifacts from indigenous tribes across North America.  Comprising over 5,000 lots, the assemblage will offer Southwest ceramics and carvings, Eskimo ritual items, and much more. 

For more information, view the online catalogue.

Polychrome storage jar - Hopi

Chief's blanket  -  Navajo

Transformation mask - Yup'ik

Information and images courtesy of Bonhams