Necklace "Leone"

Collective term for the artistic creations from the tribes and ethnic groups of sub-Saharan Africa. African ancestral sculptures, magical figures and masks are deeply rooted in religious and mythical tradition.

The Ashanti people that are native to the Ashanti Region (Ghana today) developed an impressive goldsmith's art due to their wealth in gold. The wood carvings of Ashanti artists (e.g. mother and child figures or fertility dolls) are also well-known.

Benin (now Nigeria) was ruled for centuries by powerful kings called Oba. The obas were absolute monarchs, who were said to be descendants of god. The respective heirs had the responsibility to preserve their memory. Imposing bronze altars and impressive head sculptures became a reminding legacy of the following generations. The excellently crafted bronze heads cast using the lost-wax process, which date back to the 15th and 16th centuries, are outstanding testimonies to African art.

Similarly famous are the shoulder masks of the Baga in Guinea, West Africa, which weigh up to 60 kg and the terracotta heads of Yoruba in Ife (Nigeria) which date from the 10th to 13th centuries.

The Berbers are the tribes of Kabyle, Guanche and Tuareg located in Northwest Africa. Berber art is characterised by abstraction and spontaneous creativity. The exceptional vitality of Berber art can be seen in the incorporation of modern art movements.

In the manufacture of jewellery, the abstract geometric motifs are made as individual pieces and linked to long chain strands. The jewellery creations made of silver are especially sought-after and attractive.