The Horror of it All – Ghanaian Movie Posters
In the late 1980s when videocassette recorders (VCRs) started making their way into Ghana, a small cottage industry developed called the ‘mobile cinema.’ The industry was composed of…
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Twice Born – Yoruba Ibeji Twin Figures
The Yoruba people have historically been known to have a high rate of twin births; the highest in the world. Statistics today show that 44 out of every…
Pipe Dreams – The Art of Opium
Back in the late 18th century, Britain was facing a dilemma in its trade with China. While there were many Chinese commodities that the Europeans wanted, the Chinese…
Symbols of Devotion – Hand-crafted Rings
As far back as ancient Egypt, the endless circle of a ring symbolized eternal love. In Ancient Greece, husbands gifted gold and silver rings to their wives. It…
The Value of Collectibles – Tami Island Ceremonial Bowls
Large, canoe-shaped bowls in the Tami Islands of Papua New Guinea were traded extensively and gifted as valuable pieces of a brides’ wealth during marriage ceremonies. Unlike smaller…
The Art of Faith – Mexican Retablos
One of the most delicate subjects to talk about is faith – yet everywhere we go, it is present. It might even be said faith is a universal…
Sitting on Gold – Ashanti Stools
While the exact origin of the Golden Stool is unknown outside of legends, it came to symbolize the central role of carved wooden stools in the Ashanti culture.…
Wrapped in Love – Chinese Minority Baby Carriers
Young Miao girls began learning embroidery around the age of eight or nine and one of the first and most important items they made were baby carriers for…
Chased in Precious Metal – Indian Silver Clad Furniture
Over 500 years ago Europeans first arrived to India to find a culture that did not widely utilize elevated furniture. When local artists were commissioned to create chairs…
Masters of Color – Late Edo Period Ukiyo-e Artists
A discussion of famous woodblock artists of the Utagawa school: Hiroshige, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi, each with distinct and diverse styles who represented, along with Yoshitsuya, the last ukiyo-e…