Antique Embossed Leather Box, Mali, 1930s, Sudanese Tuareg Mandingue Art
Superb large embossed and engraved leather desk box / case - Sub-Saharan / Sudanese Art (Mali) - 1930s period (Interwar period).
Description: A very fine piece of West African decorative craftsmanship, fully covered in leather with a traditional geometric design (central rosette, concentric circles, and borders). The interior is divided into two sections, making it ideal as a letter box, document holder, or desk case.
Provenance and History: This item comes from a family house clearance. It was made locally in Mali (then French Sudan) in the 1930s, commissioned by a French expatriate living there before World War II.
An authentic colonial-period piece, far superior in quality to the later tourist pieces from the 1970s/80s.
Condition: Very good overall condition for an item in leather that is nearly 100 years old. The leather has been carefully cleaned and nourished.
It has a beautiful aged patina, with a few signs of use and minor marks that attest to its authenticity and history (see detailed photos). The leather hinges are functional.
Very careful packaging, see my ratings.