Rare African Pygmy Mbuti Barkcloth Ituri Rainforest - Congo

Size; 62 cm x 23 cm.

Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents and have been cherished by various Ituri owners. Small cracks, abrasions and fissures are a normal part of their patina and testify to their age and extensive use.
The Mbuti people who live in the Ituri rainforest of the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, are one of the few remaining hunter-gatherer cultures in the world.

Since 3500 BC they have been famous for their rich and extraordinary music and dance arts, but until recently the bark drawings and paintings created by Mbuti women were virtually unknown in the West.
Originally created as loincloths for ceremonies and dances, these drawings are sophisticated abstract compositions that embody the qualities of improvisation and syncopation associated with the African visual and musical sensibility.

The Mbuti people of the Ituri Forest in the Republic of Congo are among the last living groups to still practice a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The bark cloths made by the pygmy Mbuti women are extremely beautifully drawn with all kinds of Ituri symbolism.

The Greek word "pygmy" comes from the Iliad, the oldest poem in Western culture. The existence of groups of small people in the Congo has been documented by Stanley and others before him; there are a number of groups of “pygmies”, but only the Mbuti produce painted bark cloth.

The barkcloth is made from different trees, usually the latex ficus. They are made from bark, which is found between the bark and the sap of the tree. Women and children wear one rectangle in the front, like a skirt, and sometimes an extra one in the back. Men wear one that covers the buttocks, is brought between the legs to the waist, where it is held by a belt, and draped over the top.

A woman chooses the tree and a man cuts the tree and removes the bark, which is then soaked in water and hammered two or more times. The pagnes are not painted, except for special events. Women paint with natural dyes from fruits, nuts and herbs. The most common blue-black dye is from the gardenia.

Recommended reading: For more information and similar examples, see MBUTI DESIGN-PAINTINGS BY PYGMY WOMEN OF THE ITURI FOREST. by Meurant and Thompson.

  

A SUMMARY OF OUR AFRICA-GALLERY SELLING POLICIES.

Our Africa-gallery specialized in Ethiopian tribal art, collected and sell tribal used art from all over Africa and special from Ethiopia.

Our Gallery have a collection of authentic, original and traditional art from Africa. This collection including masks, statues, pottery, musical instruments, manuscripts, headrests and other antique, primitive art and various unusual items.

I hardly ever buy direct from Africa. All my items that I sell are old and (tribal) used. My objects come from European and American private collections, auction houses, fellow dealers and other collectors from around the world.

This site gives you an impression of our stock and activities. Authentic, museum quality African tribal art at wholesale prices

We strive to provide deeper public appreciation for high quality African art and to make it accessible to all collectors.

High quality masks, carvings, statues, fetishes, animal figures, ritual objects and bronzes displayed here will add beauty to any home and value to any collection.

In addition, an ever-growing demand for rapidly disappearing original African tribal art makes it a sound investment.

As long-time experienced collectors, we carefully select and authenticate every artifact. Shown here are original, high quality, hand-crafted pieces made of wood or bronze which can be yours at a fraction of gallery prices! Years of traditional use added distinction to many of them.

We guarantee the authenticity of every item and your complete satisfaction. We make every effort to research and document the history of each artifact.

In our gallery you will find a nice selection of our stock. If you find something that is not on the site, let us know. We always have a large stock of items that are not on our site.

Please let us know if you do not see items you want. We may be able to find them for you.

Stand - The stand is not included in the price, you can buy it via the "stands" button.

Payment - PayPal preferred. For other payment methods please contact us before bidding. 

Shipping - We ship worldwide. We try and get shipments out as quickly as possible after payment, usually shipping four times weekly. 

Combined shipping - For buyers of multiple items please email us when done shopping for your combined invoice with reduced shipping fees. For urgent deliveries we can arrange courier shipments via DHL (additional charges incurred to be covered by the buyer). 

Delivery – Delivery to most destinations is anywhere between 2 to 8 business days inside Europe and 16 to 21 business days to the rest of the world, after receiving our email confirmation that the item has been shipped. Parcels shipped from the Netherlands are sent using the Post NL and the parcel status is traceable online. 

Refunds & Returns – We are aiming for your complete satisfaction. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase please return the item to us for a complete refund or exchange. No hassles, no questions asked. Refunds will be issued via PayPal or by Bank only. The shipping cost are not refund. 

Please Contact Us – For any questions, concerns, or clarifications before bidding on or purchasing an item. We are usually able to respond within 24 hours. To avoid spam filters please establish initial contact through the eBay messaging system. 

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Kind Regards,

Gijs van Kuijk