Authentic African masks

Remember that each individual object of art is absolutely authentic and hand made. These are not the mass-produced, machine-made African carvings or replicas that abound in discount home decor stores everywhere across the nation. Rather, these are made by living, breathing, incredibly gifted artisans. Your purchase of African masks or any other art objects helps to sustain their way of life. As Africans ourselves, we at AfricanArt.com appreciate this.

Genuine African carvings

A variety of our African masks and carvings are made of ebony. You've probably heard of ebony, but did you know that it's in the same genus as the persimmon tree? That certainly brings this small tropical tree a bit closer to home. Widely distributed in warmer climates and in the tropics, ebony wood has been valued from ancient times. It is hard and dark and used extensively in cabinetmaking and for piano keys (hence the expression "ebony and ivory.") Ebony varies from deep black to dark red. It can be striped with black or with shades of brown; these varieties are called calamander wood or variegated ebony. Several factors help to determine the shade, including moisture, mineral content of the soil, and the age of the tree. In general, darker ebony is found at higher altitudes and from older trees. This is one of the reasons ebony is a scarce and costly wood, and the African carvings made from it are held in high regard.