ornate ring

Master carver Abdul Aziz Mohamadu designs this stunning sculpture in the shape of a voluptuous woman with arms outstretched and an oversized head. Stylized according to Akan artistry with a sese wood body, her head is adorned with birds patiently detailed with recycled glass beads. Ornate brass plates on the tummy and around the neck denote that she leads a good life, or obrapa.

Theophilus Anum designs a mask of impressive beauty crowned with the Sankofa bird, from the Akan adinkra symbol. Shaped like a bird with its head turned towards its back, it symbolizes learning from the past. The sese wood wall mask is crafted by hand featuring ornate embossed aluminum details.

Within a "house" handcrafted from mango wood, an ornate brass bell jingles. Thai artisan Jaifah Aksornsri creates this charming decorative accent, which evokes traditional Indonesian temples and places of worship. The brass and wood are given an antiqued finish.

This ornate walking stick features an extremely versatile handle that pairs comfort with a beautifully carved bird motif. Ghanaian artist Eva Asantewa Amakye carves the walking stick from sese wood and then paints it to accentuate the designs. Amakye names it Sankofa, which means "Going back to our roots."

Master carver Abdul Aziz Mohamadu designs this stunning wall mask featuring Igbo stylizations. Mohamadu call his original design Udo, meaning "peace." In the tradition of Igbo dance masks, this one is carved by hand of rubberwood and lavishly adorned with a raffia beard. The face is adorned with ornately embossed aluminum plates as well as painted details. Applications of clay are used to give the wall mask the appearance of an aged piece.

This friendly African osunu (elephant) raises its long lean trunk to shape the handle of this admirable walking stick. Ghanaian artisan Eva Asantewa Amakye creates the impressive design of this decorative walking stick. Carved by hand of seasoned sese wood, the walking stick features ornately embossed aluminum rings toward the bottom.

Many African societies regard a person with a walking stick with respect and dignity. Usually associated with age, an elderly person using a walking stick is believed to have accumulated vast knowledge and wisdom through the years. Traditionally, the design on a walking stick tells the societal status and political inclination of the person using it.