{"title":"African Artisan Gifts — Artifacts","description":"\u003cp\u003eContemporary decorative artifacts and crafts handmade by African artisans — including carved wood, ceramics, woven baskets, and sculptural objects. Each piece reflects living African craft traditions. These are modern artisan-made pieces, distinct from the antique and museum-quality tribal art in our main collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"carved-awale-mancala-game-board-west-african-incised-elephant-motif-16-x-6-2-in","title":"Carved Awalé (Mancala) Game Board – West African, Incised Elephant Motif, 16 X 6.2 In","description":"\u003cp\u003eA carved wood Awalé (Oware\/Mancala-family) game board, measuring approximately 16 x 6.2 inches. The board features two rows of six deep cupped pits set into a dark-stained wood body, with a hinged lid section allowing the board to close for storage or travel. The exterior is decorated with an incised design finished in gold pigment, depicting a stylized elephant with raised trunk, a star motif, and rhythmic wave-form patterning running along the lower edge. The interior pit surfaces show a natural, unstained wood tone from wear and play.\u003cbr\u003eAwalé, part of the wider Mancala family of counting\/strategy games, is one of the oldest and most widely played traditional games across West Africa, historically carved from wood and played using seeds, shells, or small stones as counters. Boards like this one, combining functional gameplay with decorative surface carving, are both cultural artifacts and collectible folk art objects.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: Awalé (Mancala) game board, hinged two-row form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Carved dark wood with gold-highlighted incised decoration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: approx. 16 x 6.2 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCondition:  News, Good, decorative carving intact \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes: Playing seeds\/counters as shown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Alobalo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48223462392034,"sku":"ALB-ITM-009","price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0825\/2201\/3922\/files\/65241e92-c6e1-4eca-bc0c-d077b49343b5.jpg?v=1786827480"},{"product_id":"crocodile-form-awale-mancala-game-board-carved-wood","title":"Crocodile-Form Awalé (Mancala) Game Board – Carved Wood","description":"\u003cp\u003eA carved wood Awalé (Mancala-family) game board in the sculptural form of a crocodile, measuring approximately 19 x 6.5 inches. The board's exterior is fully carved to resemble a crocodile's head, ridged back, and textured tail, finished in a rich dark stain with a glossy surface. The interior opens on a hinge to reveal two rows of six cupped playing pits, shown with a set of seeds used as counters. The reptile's head and tail form the rounded ends of the board when closed.\u003cbr\u003eAwalé, part of the wider Mancala family of counting and strategy games, is among the oldest and most widely played traditional games across West Africa, historically carved from wood and played with seeds, shells, or small stones as counters. This example combines functional gameplay with figurative sculptural carving, making it both a playable game and a decorative object.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: Awalé (Mancala) game board, hinged two-row form, crocodile sculptural design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Carved wood, dark polished finish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: approx. 19 x 6.5 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCondition: Good, carving and hinge intact (see photos)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes: Playing seeds\/counters as shown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Alobalo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48223602704610,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0825\/2201\/3922\/files\/9a4d1e53-3f46-4337-9079-d7cc5dd35ded.jpg?v=1786831965"},{"product_id":"handwoven-bolga-style-basket-bowl-ghana-natural-fiber-14-cm-diameter","title":"Handwoven Bolga-Style Basket Bowl – Ghana, Natural Fiber, 14 cm Diameter","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA handwoven shallow bowl-basket from Ghana, made from natural straw\/raffia fiber in a concentric circular pattern of red, black, green, and natural tan. Two flat woven handles extend from the sides. Measuring approximately 14 cm in diameter and 9 cm in height, this piece is a new, ready-to-use item.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWoven baskets of this type are part of a longstanding Ghanaian craft tradition, most closely associated with the \"Bolga\" basket-weaving communities of the Upper East Region, who use dyed straw to create vibrant geometric and radial patterns. Traditionally used for carrying goods, serving, and storage, they're equally suited today as decorative bowls or general household storage — a versatile piece for keeping small items at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eOrigin: Ghana\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eMaterial: Handwoven natural straw\/raffia, dyed fibers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDimensions: approx. 14 cm diameter x 9 cm height\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eCondition: New\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eUse: Decorative bowl \/ household storage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Alobalo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233574629602,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0825\/2201\/3922\/files\/WhatsAppImage2026-08-18at17.14.37_2.jpg?v=1787073942"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0825\/2201\/3922\/collections\/african-artisan-gifts-artifacts.png?v=1786929694","url":"https:\/\/www.alobalo.shop\/es\/collections\/african-artisan-gifts-artifacts.oembed","provider":"Alobalo ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}