The Tribal Arts of Africa

"Seductive. . . . The selected objects are carefully reproduced to enhance salient qualities."
—Houston Chronicle

"An excellent introduction to African art."

—USA Today

The marvelous achievements of black African artists over thousands of years are revealed and superbly portrayed in this book. The earliest pieces date from the beginning of the first millennium, the most recent from the early twentieth century before the commercial production of art for the tourist trade. All were made by Africans for their own use.

Jean-Baptiste Bacquart has divided Africa south of the Sahara into forty-nine cultural areas. Each section studies the most important tribe within that area, surveying its social and political structures as well as its artistic production. The art is analyzed according to type—in most instances masks, statues, and everyday objects such as utensils, furniture, and jewelry. When appropriate, further information on artistically related tribes is provided. Each section contains lavishly presented color photographs of all the major object types, documentary black-and-white illustrations, and its own bibliography.

A detailed reference section with information on key collections open to the public and a glossary completes this invaluable publication, the only one to present the entire range of black African art in accessible form.

Jean-Baptiste Bacquart studied art history and archaeology at the Sorbonne and the Ecole du Louvre. Former head of the Tribal Art department at Sotheby's, London, he now works as a consultant, advising museums and private collectors on the acquisition and conservation of tribal works of art.

"Masterfully presents dynamic color photos of all the major object types . . . the book's convenient, referenced grouping of these objects alongside contextual explanations of the socio-political structures of each group is unique."

—Black Issues Book Review

"Every library . . . must have this reference available as a work of art in its own right and for the exquisite balance of clarity of expression, comprehensiveness, and authenticity of information unavailable in any other single volume on African tribal art in English."
—Choice

ISBN 0-500-28231-5 · 8 ³/₄" x 12" · 865 illustrations, 195 in color · 240 pages · ART / AFRICAN STUDIES

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