7 Treasured Medieval and Ancient African Art History Objects Found *Across* The Continent of Africa

Do you want to discover treasured ancient African art history objects? Below is a collection of seven prized pieces of art found across the continent of Africa that will make you huzzah! 

African art is mightily spectacular! Art enthusiasts across the board find fascination in the diverse scene that African art is. We love art here at Hyento so we cherry-picked a few for you to look at. These are some essential African art pieces to know about.

Stock up on ancient African art facts to share as you read on the history of African art from different parts of the continent. Learn when the first African art was made and about certain characteristics of African art. All the types of African art could not fit into one article, however, some famous African art pieces are included.(;

Types of African Art 

In this article you are going to get the chance to look at some ancient African art history artefacts that should be known by all art lovers. 

This post contains African art paintings, such as from the early Solomonic period, that you will see followed by African art sculptures from all over. African art is mostly used for the purpose of admiring though many had quite peculiar purposes as you will see!

Want some facts about ancient African art? Scroll through the text and be on the look out for the purple text!

Under each artwork is its present location for you to visit when you get the chance.

This post is all about treasured ancient African art history artefacts that should be known by all art lovers. 

Treasured Ancient African Art History Works

African Art Paintings

The Christ nursed by the virgin Mary, Unknown

 

This piece of work is a triptych painting, a work of art made in three panels side by side, on wood portraying Jesus and Mary.

In this painting, the virgin Mary is shown nursing the infant Christ. Behind them are two sword-bearing angels. On the side panels the twelve apostles are painted in pairs along three horizontal rows. Hand knife marks and gesso show on the back of the closed panel.

The triptych painting dates to the middle or second half of the 15th century in modern-day Ethiopia. It belongs to the early Solomonic period of Ethiopia. At the time, many artisans were vastly inspired by the then-evolving European Renaissance movement.

Previously owned by Joseph and Patricia Brumit, this painting was likely found in a church in Ethiopia to be set out during ceremonies. It is currently located in the Washington DC National Museum of African Art.

Taarifa

Current Location: National Museum of African Art, Washington DC, USA

Country/Region of Origin: Ethiopia

Time Period: 15th century, early Solomonic era

Khoisan Rock Art, Unknown

Southern Africa is a hotspot for ancient rock art. Some of the oldest known African art – cave paintings – are found throughout the Western Cape in South Africa. They have been estimated to be ranging from 200-28,000 years old!

These paintings are located in Cederberg near Stadsaal Cave, at the Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve. And are a testament of the earliest human inhabitants of the world.

Majoritively painted by the Khoisan people, these works of art depict what we believe to be their quotidien. Landscapes of animals and persons are most commonly shown. Much of the art is presumed to have been made for religious reasons. Additionally and naturally, our disconnect with the pre-historic period restricts our understanding of their art.

The Khoisan population has greatly reduced over time. They were exterminated by European colonizers. And many still suffer harm. Very few Khoisan people remain and the region has experienced dramatic change in its environmental and societal landscape.

Taarifa

Current Location: Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve in the Cederberg, Western Cape, South Africa

Country/Region of Origin: Cedeberg, South Africa

Time Period: c. 200-800 years ago, likely pre-historical 

Ancient Egypt Carved relief of Pharaoh: Queen Ahmose-Nefertari, unknown

Ancient Egyptian artefacts is what was ancient African art to most for yeaaaaars. Now we know that it only represents a fragment of the magnitude that is art from Africa. Though, undeniably, Ancient Egyptian art is impressive and grand beyond measure.

Here is a wall painting of the Queen Ahmose-Nefertari of the 18th Dynasty. She was the mother of pharaoh Amenhotep I. She appears deified and while her body remains in Tomb TT359 at Deir el-Medina, Egypt.

The royal Egyptians of the time had immensely detailed burial rituals that generally involved clothing and mummification processes in hopes of preparing the deceased in their after-life.

Currently, this painting is displayed in Berlin, Germany at the Neues Museum.

Taarifa

Current Location: Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany

Country/Region of Origin: Egypt

Time Period: 1186-1070 BCE

African Art Sculptures

Bronze Plaque depicting chief flanked by two warriors, unknown

This plaque, made of bronze, depicting a chief flanked by two warriors is one of the multitude of Beninese masterpieces. It dates between the mid 14th century to the mid 16th century. Made of copper alloy, bronze the art piece shows three standing warriors all well dressed.

Ancient African Art Facts 

Many associate traditional African art history with sculptures because it is a cherished art that has been preserved well. People of the Kingdom of Benin had mastered the art so much so that it has been reputedly ranked among Western wonders such as those of Benvenuto Cellini!

Now found in the Peabody Museum in the American University of Harvard, the sculpture was taken from the British colony of Nigeria and brought to Harvard by Oric Bates in 1916.

Taarifa

Current Location: Peabody Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Country/Region of Origin: Nigeria (which encompassed the Kingdom of Benin)

Time Period: AD 1350-1550 

Nok sculpture of a seated man, unknown

This is a sculpture of a seated man is from the Nok Culture of modern-day Nigeria. The man is believed to have been a person of great importance and status. Present on him are various necklaces, bracelets and a belt.

As was the custom of the time, the sculpted man’s eyes have been pierced and the head elongated to the point of taking a third of the artefacts size. Elongating the head was a common characteristic of art from the Nigerian region of Katsina.

Its grainy effects in due to the sculpture composition of chamotte clay blended with quartz and silica grains. The reason for this statue is hypothetic though African art historians view it a funerary item. Its time period also varied from BC 500 to AD 500.

Today, the Nok sculpture of a seated man is located in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

Taarifa

Current Location: Louvre Museum, Paris, France

Country/Region of Origin: Nigeria

Time Period: BC 500 – AD 500

Southern African headrest, unknown

Pictured above is a 19th century piece of art with the peculiar purpose of maintaining hairdos. It is a traditionally Southern African headrest.

Headrests like these were used prevalently in Southern Africa (some date back to the 12th century!). They were created to protect elaborate hairstyles during nighttime. It is said that they also held religious purposes. However, and ever since, the production and usage of these long-lived headrests came to a halt the 1950s.

Among the people that made use of such items are the subjects of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Remains of these artefacts made out of wood have been found inside burial cave ruins such as Great Zimbabwe.

This headrest is displayed in America at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Taarifa

Current Location: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA

Country/Region of Origin:  Southern Africa

Time Period: AD 1800-1900

Daggers of bone and copper of the Kingdom of Kerma, unknown

Presented above is a pair of ancient daggers. They are made out of both bone and copper and were used in warfare by the people of Kerma.

Established in 2500 BC Kerma was a highly militaristic Nubian Kingdom, found in present-day Sudan. Much weaponry, such as bronze daggers and swords are found in the graves of the ancient people of Kerma. Pictured above are daggers that date back from 1750-1450 BCE.

Kingdom of Kush, which spanned from historical Nubia to the Far East, began to emerge around 500 years following the fall of the Kingdom of Kerma.

The ancient artefacts are located in the British Museum of London, UK.

Taarifa

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK

Country/Region of Origin: Sudan

Time Period: BCE 1750-1450

 

African artwork is spectacular and so are you!

This post was all about ancient African art history 

 

AFRICAN ART PAINTINGS

THE CHRIST NURSED BY THE VIRGIN MARY, UNKNOWN

“Icon.” Smartify, app.smartify.org/objects/icon-2. Accessed 10 Aug. 2023.

KHOISAN ROCK ART, UNKNOWN

Cederberg Conservancy. “Khoisan Rock Art.” Cederberg.co.za, 2016, www.cederberg.co.za/environment/khoisan-rock-art.

AFRICAN ART SCULPTURES

BRONZE PLAQUE DEPICTING CHIEF FLANKED BY TWO WARRIORS, UNKNOWN

NOK SCULPTURE OF A SEATED MAN, UNKNOWN

SOUTHERN AFRICAN HEADREST, UNKNOWN

DAGGERS OF BONE AND COPPER OF THE KINGDOM OF KERMA, UNKNOWN