by Caren Caraway

The great heart of Africa nurtured a variety of native arts as early as the sixteenth century, in response to the requirements of the many tribal potentates and their courts. The abstract masks of the Bakwele, the hollowed-out fetishes of the Bakongo, the naturalistic female carvings of the Baluba, who gave women high status, the bieri boxes of the Pangue tribes and many other rich design sources are depicted here in superb drawings to inspire all who are interested in art, crafts and African culture. This book joins the many others of the International Design Library listed on the inside back cover.