Stronger Than You Think – Women of Power in Africa
Many African cultures have historically given women great power, especially Queen Mothers. Queen Mothers are defined as women who give birth to a reigning king.
Journal
Peoples, deities and the objects they made: notes on the cultures behind the collection.
Art of the Brushstroke – Introducing Seiran Chiba
Since the day Seiran Chiba entered a calligraphy school at the age of 11, her teachers had always provided her with lessons in the form of characters to…
Through the Eyes of the West – European Engravings of the Orient
Long before Google Earth could take us on virtual trips around the world, before we could search the internet for facts, pictures and videos, before encyclopedias even existed,…
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…
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.…