South Africa

Ostrich Feathers Wall Art

Piece #D009 · Year Made: 1960

$550

Shipping individually quoted

Origin

South Africa

Period

Mid-20th Century

Medium

Genuine Ostrich Feathers and Cloth

Length

27"

Width

25"

Height

6"

Details & Materials

In the Bamileke kingdoms of Cameroon, a feathered headdress called a Juju hat is worn by chiefs, royal families, and dignitaries at ceremonies, then handed down when an elder dies along with the standing of the person who wore it. This piece carries that tradition onto the wall. Hand made in South Africa over two to three days, it is fitted one feather at a time, and unlike most Juju hats on the market it is made entirely of genuine ostrich feathers.

Hung above a bed, a mantel, or a sofa, it reads as sculpture: a full circle of soft texture that catches light and shadow differently across the day.

  • Condition: Excellent, not previously owned, undamaged
  • Sourcing: Fair Trade
  • Certificate of Authenticity: Available Upon Request
  • Provenance Report: Available Upon Request
Shipping

Buy now and leave the shipping to us. At checkout you pay for the piece plus a shipping deposit. We then plan the packing for your piece and email you the remaining shipping balance. This applies to both domestic and international orders. Every shipment is tracked, and most deliveries need a signature.

  • Domestic: 5-8 business days
  • International: 10-14 business days
  • White-glove delivery available on request
Care & Placement

Dust occasionally. Hang on the wall over your bed, mantelpiece, sofa, flat screen TV or simply an empty space on the wall.

Authenticity guaranteed, every piece verified
Packed and shipped by our team, insured and tracked
New York City gallery, est. 1983

Origin

South Africa

"When I was first exposed to African art, I felt a deep connection to it. It is hard to explain. It resonates with me spiritually."

Michael, Founder

York's Shona Gallery was the first in New York City to bring African sculpture to American collectors. Every piece in our collection is acquired directly, ensuring authenticity and fair exchange with the artists and communities who create them.

Animals in African Art

The Significance of Animals

In African art an animal is rarely just an animal. It can stand for a king, a clan, an ancestor or a lesson, and its meaning changes from one people to the next.

Many families trace their roots to an animal. Among the Shona of Zimbabwe, every clan has its own animal, such as the lion or the elephant, and people do not eat the animal of their clan out of reverence.

Animals also carry power. In the Benin Kingdom, the king is known as the leopard of the house, and leopards were once kept at the royal palace. In Cameroon, the elephant stands for the power of chiefs. In Mali, carved antelopes celebrate farming and the people who work the land.

Animals are also used to teach lessons. In Ghana, children grow up with stories of Anansi, a clever spider whose adventures teach right from wrong.

Hundreds of years ago, carvers in Zimbabwe made tall birds out of stone. Today one of those birds is the symbol of the country and appears on its flag. Shona sculptors often carve animals, and figures that are part person and part animal.

Stands for
Power, family, and a good harvest
Teaches
Right from wrong
Seen in
Masks, brass figures, stone and wood sculpture
Ancient rock engravings of giraffes and a human figure
Two people walking toward a herd of elephants
A black panther resting on a tree branch

Animal symbols

Nigeria

Leopard

A symbol of the king

Cameroon

Elephant

A symbol of power

Mali

Antelope

A symbol of farming and a good harvest

Zimbabwe

Lion

A family symbol for many Shona clans