A rare and important Maori carved wooden ancestor figure from the 19th century, an unusual carved wood tigercat grave marker from Borneo and a striking Ivory Coast dance mask are amongst the fascinating artworks on display at Tribal Perspectives, the UK’s only specialist group gallery show and selling event of tribal and ethnographic art.

The brainchild of gallerist Bryan Reeves (Tribal Gathering), the event was initiated in 2007 to bring together a group of international dealers whose expertise spans tribal works from Australasia, the Americas, Africa and the East.

“There were major fairs in the USA and in Europe, but we felt a collective show of international experts in tribal art was needed in London,” Mr Reeves said.

“Many of our UK customers visit Tribal Perspectives as it’s a fun, sociable and effective way to view an extensive variety of works and meet and learn from other dealers and experts in the field.

“But we also attract international collectors of modern and contemporary art for whom tribal pieces work sculpturally alongside and complementary to their other collections.”

Exhibited works for sale will include tribal masks, textiles, and a diverse array of special objects; all are lovingly crafted and many were created for ritualistic or ceremonial use.

Jewellery and adornment is an important aspect of tribal art, as are arms and armour.

Beaded crowns and shell-work headpieces are shown with Aboriginal and African-decorated shields.

These pieces are appreciated for their decorative and sculptural effect as well as their cultural significance, and are chosen for their quality and authenticity.

As Mr Reeves emphasises: “The pieces exhibited by the dealers at Tribal Perspectives are all original, period items made for intentional use, many of them museum-quality.

“There is a great deal of later work on the market today, not made for use in the tribe but to serve the consumer demands of a tourist trade.

“However, our exhibitors source historic items, often with provenance, collected in the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries by explorers, scientists and missionaries who would have lived alongside or known the peoples for whom these wonderful objects held great significance.”

This ‘pop-up’ specialist tribal art gathering has returned to Gallery 28, Cork Street, in Mayfair, London, for its seventh edition, which closes tomorrow. A virtual tour of last year’s show is available at www.tribalperspectives.com.

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