Editing African art (section)

== Materials ==
[[File:African Sudan Art Basket-Tray.jpg|thumb|Sudanese basket-tray, tabar of weaved natural plant fibre, coloured in different colours]]
African art is produced using a wide range of materials and takes many distinct shapes. Because wood is a prevalent material, wood sculptures make up the majority of African art. Other materials used in creating African art include clay soil. Jewelry is a popular art form used to indicate rank, affiliation with a group, or purely aesthetics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://squinti.com/?page_id=648 |title=The Use of Haematite, Tiger's Eye Stone and Ebony Wood for African Jewelry |publisher=Squinti African Art |access-date=2012-01-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119161224/http://squinti.com/?page_id=648 |archive-date=2012-01-19 }}</ref> African jewelry is made from such diverse materials as [[Tiger's eye]] stone, [[Hematite]], [[Sisal]], [[Coconut|coconut shell]], [[Bead|beads]] and [[Ebony]] wood. Sculptures can be wooden, ceramic or carved out of stone like the famous Shona sculptures,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://squinti.com/?page_id=728 |title=What is African Art |publisher=Squinti African Art |access-date=2012-01-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119141134/http://squinti.com/?page_id=728 |archive-date=2012-01-19 }}</ref> and decorated or sculpted pottery comes from many regions. Various forms of textiles are made including [[Kitenge]], mud cloth and [[Kente]] cloth. Mosaics made of butterfly wings or colored sand are popular in [[West Africa]]. Early African sculptures can be identified as being made of terracotta and bronze.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |chapter-url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=af033900&site=ehost-live |chapter=African Art and Architecture |date=30 September 2021 |title=Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia |access-date=11 December 2023 |publisher=World Book, Inc. |publication-place=Chicago |via=EBSCOhost}}</ref>