Description

Width: 22cm

Depth: 10cm

A rare and deeply evocative ceremonial artefact, this handwoven tribal basket houses an authentic monkey skull bound in a complex ritual arrangement.

Sourced from a private ethnographic collection, this piece is believed to originate from West or Central Africa and was likely used in traditional animist or spiritual practices.

The basket is tightly interwoven with dark-stained cane or reed, surrounding the skull in an almost protective embrace.

A second smaller animal skull, possibly from a small antelope or similar species, is bound across the top – symbolising the intertwining of spirits or animalistic guardianship.

Such objects were often used in ritual protection, divination, or ancestral veneration ceremonies, where bones were revered as a vessel of spirit and memory.

The monkey skull itself – possibly from a vervet or guenon species – shows signs of historic age and preservation, exhibiting rich patination and wear consistent with ceremonial handling and storage.

This piece is not a reproduction. It is an authentic, powerful object with a mysterious and compelling presence – ideal for collectors of tribal art, occult history, or museum-quality ethnographic curiosities.