Helmet mask of blackened wood, carved as a head with face and elaborate hairstyle, topped with a square pinnacle decoration and fringed with a few long strands of black raffia remaining at neck edge, Worn to represent the sowei spirit during masquerades performed by the female Sande Society: Africa, West Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende people

Helmet mask or mashamboy with cane foundation covered with cotton and raffia cloth and ornamented with beads and cowrie shells to form a stylised face surmounted by a horn-like projection, worn by men during the babendi, a series of initiation ceremonies: Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Kuba people, early 20th century

Basket with lid attached, Tjanpi, made from fibre woven over remnants of a metal screen door: Australasia, Australia, Pukatja, female maker unknown

Basket with coloured horizontal stripes and green handle, of spinefex, plant fibre and raffia: Australasia, Australia, Pukatja, by Tjunkaya Tapaya, c. 2007

Sarcophagus I#3, blown clear glass form, two sections glued together, one section with internal bubble, the other section with internal bubble filled with dried leaves, wrapped in the middle with grey suede tied with black raffia: Netherlands, Amsterdam, Elizabeth Swinburne, 1983

Woven raffia fringed skirt rolled and tied with raffia in a bundle, used as a standard of value for trade and exchange: Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, early 20th century

Fringed raffia skirt dyed black with roasted palm nuts: Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, early 20th century

Waistbelt of woven raffia with decoration of cowrie shells and black and white glass beads: Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kasai District, early 20th century

Raffia fibre skirt dyed with camwood: Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, early 20th century

Woven raffia and bamboo leaf cloth mat, with red dyed and natural warp and weft threads: Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bateke, early 20th century