The oldest forms of metalworking are techniques for processing the native metals. Gold, copper, tin, lead and silver all occur in their native forms as nuggets or veins in rocks.
Tribal people have been making tools from these materials for at least a million years.
The techniques used are remarkably simple and efficient. Stone hammers were used to break lumps of rock into smaller pieces, which were then pounded to powder by large stone anvils. The resulting powder was crushed between two stones to form a fine slurry that could be shaped using wooden molds or clay stamps.
Detailed information can be found at:
http://www.tribalartforum.com/t6656-metals-processed-by-primitive-techniques
I am a metal artist and this blog is dedicated to all the people that have so much passion in what they do and share it with the world. I will try to post images of all kinds of tribal art, share information about different techniques, materials and more. The blog was created with the idea of expanding my horizons and to keep a record of all my findings in the field of tribal arts.
The name comes from my fascination for the spiritual meaning behind these objects, since I am myself a spiritual person I can actually feel that energy when looking at them or even holding them in my hands.
They are not just pretty colors on a rock but there is a story behind each one, that’s why I intend to tell you about them as much as possible, not only the ones that I own or made but also those that belong to other artists from around the world.
I will also show you how I process metals since it is quite interesting and unique, since we use techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation as well as some more modern ones.
I hope you enjoy your visit here and come back often to look at what’s new!
I want to use this blog to share my knowledge and enthusiasm for the field of tribal arts. Over the coming weeks and months I will be exploring many different aspects of this fascinating subject.
Tribal art is a very broad term, encompassing any metalwork produced by tribal peoples. This includes some of the most primitive methods known to man, as well as more sophisticated techniques. Some of my articles will describe these different techniques and their products, while others will look in more detail at the cultures that used them.
Tribal arts are amongst the most beautiful objects made by man; they are also amongst the hardest to obtain legally. There can be few people who have not heard of tigers teeth necklaces or crocodile masks from New Guinea, but few people have ever been able to buy them. Until now there has been no way for collectors, museums and anybody else interested in tribal art to purchase genuine pieces legally. That’s why I’m starting this blog.
I want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy these beautiful artefacts, so I hope you will support me in this venture by buying genuine examples of tribal art from us! And if you have any questions about any aspect of purchasing or collecting tribal items, please ask – I’d be
The age of metals is a relatively recent one in human history. The first metal smelting by human hands happened only about 5000 years ago, and most of the useful metals we use today were not discovered until even more recently.
Tribal art is art produced by people who have not yet learned to smelt metal. It was made before 4000 B.C., when the wheel was invented, and it is still being made today by peoples living in isolated places like Siberia and New Guinea.
Tribal art is interesting because it shows how different our ancestors were from us. It also shows that some of our deepest-seated assumptions about the importance of metallurgy are wrong. Metallurgy is often thought to be an essential part of civilization, but we can see from tribal art that it has actually been a late addition to the human toolkit; and that once invented, it wasn’t always used to make better tools or weapons, but sometimes just for decoration.
Tribal art is a broad term used to describe objects made by indigenous people that are not normally considered works of art by Western standards.
Tribal art has been created for hundreds and thousands of years by many different cultures, mainly in Africa and Asia. These objects are made by tribal societies that do not use the industrial techniques employed in the mass production of consumer goods, but rather use materials such as wood, stone, shell or bone to make tools and weapons. Other examples of tribal art include masks, shields and sculptures which are used in ceremonies or rituals.
Tribal art can also be described as primitive art although this term has fallen out of favour in recent times due to its racist implications. The term primitive is now considered offensive, implying that tribal art is unsophisticated and inferior to the works produced by civilised society. As a result, the term tribal art is now more commonly used to describe the work created by these societies.
Tribal art is the term given to art produced by the indigenous peoples of the world. These arts are created using traditional techniques, materials and often designs that have been passed down through generations. Tribal art is a living tradition and each piece will tell a story, whether it has been passed down through stories, ceremony or song.
Flowers hold significant meaning in many cultures and are frequently depicted in tribal art. Flowers symbolize birth, death, marriage, worship and even medicine or healing. The lotus flower is a popular subject for many tribal artists who use the flower as an instrument for storytelling or depict scenes from daily life such as animals drinking from a pool of water or people picking flowers in a field.
The coconut tree is another common subject in tribal art and its depiction will vary from culture to culture. In some regions of India the coconut tree is associated with fertility as well as protection for young children.
In Africa the coconut tree is viewed as a source of food, drink, shelter and medicines with honeybees being viewed as spiritual messengers from ancestors or gods
The tribal metalworkers from Central Africa have been using the same techniques for centuries, even millennia. They are able to create jewelry and other objects of superior quality.
The metal-working tribes of Central Africa are spread across the vast Congo Basin in the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Bambuti people inhabit the northern section of this region, while the Bakongo live in southern regions.
The Bambuti use copper to create some intricate metalwork pieces such as bracelets and necklaces. But they also use it to decorate their pottery with beautiful geometric patterns and traditional symbols. They also use brass as a symbol of social status or wealth. It’s interesting to note that brass is not a precious metal like silver or gold, yet it is still considered a prized material by these tribesmen.
This tribe has been using similar techniques for centuries. The methods are passed down from generation to generation; fathers teach sons how to work with metals, just as mothers teach their daughters how to make jewelry out of shells or beads.
The Bakongo tribe is known for their woodcarving skills and metalwork abilities as well. The metal objects that they produce are highly valued by art collectors from all over the world because