Note:
With the high cost of shipping many of our customers choose to ship by USPS. For small and light shipments this is usually less expensive, but please be aware that their estimates are notoriously wrong. The service is not always as economical as it may appear, particularly on larger or more valuable shipments. USPS estimates only include insurance up to $100 for its domestic shipments, and varying amounts for overseas shipments. If you ask for full insurance we will recalculate the shipping cost and send you an invoice for any difference in cost.

Bon Coiffure: African Hair Signs

October 6, 2020

"Bon Coiffure", Coiffure Moderne", "Super Tresse", "Rasta Do", "Ladie's Choice", "Ici Bonne Tresse", "Mervilleuse Tresse Beninoise", "God's Time",  - the names grabbed me as much as the images on the signs which announced the trade of itinerant barbers, braiders and hairdressers in Africa.  Over many years of observing, traveling or living in Africa, I regret that I didn't begin to collect the signs until the founding of Indigo in 1986.  But one of our first shows was a small collection of hair signs from West Africa, mostly from the 70's and 80's.

Indigo Arts has showcased a changing collection of painted signboards ever since -  from Ghana, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, and Togo. 

Brightly painted in commercial housepaints on plywood or masonite, these signs are a colorful, humorous, and sometimes outrageous contemporary African folk art. They reflect both ancient traditions of hairbraiding and hair-cutting and the cultural clash of imported (usually American) styles.  

In Africa a "barbershop" or "hair salon" may entail nothing more elaborate than a barber or hair-braider with a chair set up in the open and a signboard hanging from a tree or market stall. The signs may be painted by the barbers or hairdressers themselves, or by paid sign artists. They are intended both to identify the businesses and to advertise the services offered, depicting a catalog of intricate women's hairbraiding patterns or the latest in men's hair styles. 

Barbers' signs can often be dated by the hairstyles depicted - today inspired as often as not by events, styles and personalities in the USA.  Some of the earliest signs boast Elvis-inspired pompadours.   Afro-syles gave way to hip-hop cuts.  In the 80's and 90's "Mike Tyson", "Mr. Tee", "House Party", and "Cocaine Cut" were offered alongside such old favorites as "Nelson Mandela", "Back Bush", "Sportin' Waves", "Extra 'O'", "Boeing 707".   The immensely popular "Obama Coiffure" is sorely missed today.

Indigo Arts loaned signs from our collection to African Hair Signs, the 1994 show at Intuit:  The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art in Chicago.  Several important museum shows have featured African Hair-dresser’s signs, including Crowning Achievements: African Arts of Dressing the Hair at the Fowler Museum of Cultural History at UCLA in 1995 and Hair in African Art and Culture at the Museum of African Art in New York in 2000.  Our barber signs were featured in the books African Signs and Barbershop Signs in Africa, as well as Sharne Algotsson's, African Style: Down to the Details.  Currently a collection of our signs are included in the 2020 show at the SFO Museum in San Francisco, Extra 'O' African Barbershop and Hairdressing Signs.  This show has been extended to November 1st, 2020, due to the long pandemic shutdown during its run.  If your travels take you through San Francisco don't miss it!

 

QUI SAIT L'AVENIR EN VENTE ICI DU DEGUE - Trade Sign
SKU: BS-396

Bolingo Decor - Togo, 2003
Oil paint on plywood with wood frame (51" x 24" x 1")

$350

Six Guys - Barber Sign from Cameroun
SKU: BS-ED-1577

M.P. Vinu, Douala, Cameroun, c.1993
Oil paint on plywood (20 1/2" x 15 1/4", 52 cm x 38.5 cm)
Ex. Esger Duintger collection.

$350

Hairdresser's Signboard
SKU: BS-431

Togo, c.2004
Oil paint on plywood (18 1/8 " x 15 1/4")
Note:  Note curvature of sign due to warping of the thin plywood.  Mounting of this piece is recommended.

10% off

$375 $337.50

WHO JAH BLESSED 'B' SALON Two-sided Hairdresser Sign
SKU: bs-370

Kumasi, Ghana, c.2008
Oil paint on plywood with wood frame - two sided (23 1/4" x 35 1/2")

$325

Hair Sign
SKU: bs-331

by Lebene, Togo, 2004
Oil paint on plywood (15 1/2 " x 15").

$175

Cool-Cool - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-470

Babs - Burkina Faso, 2019
Oil paint on plywood (11" x 8").

$120

Nice Hair Cut - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-465

Babs - Burkina Faso, 2019
Oil paint on plywood (8" x 11").

$120

Hair Sign
SKU: BS-328

by Kofi Art, Togo, c. 2000
Oil paint on plywood (16 " x 12")

$120

Desire Tresse-Coiffure - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-472

Desir Art - Cotonou, Benin, c.2015
Oil paint on plywood (10" x 6")

$95

Clemence Chic Coiffure - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-473

Desir Art - Cotonou, Benin, c.2015
Oil paint on plywood (10" x 6")

$95

Prix Faible Coiffure et Tresse - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-474

Desir Art - Cotonou, Benin, c.2015
Oil paint on plywood (10" x 6")

$95

Grand Cordonnier Docteur des Chaussures
SKU: SN-252

A. Folly, Togo, 2015.
Oil paint on plywood (6 1/4" x 5").

$56

Coiffure Marie-Reine  Les Princesses Tresseuses
SKU: SN-254

A. Folly, Togo, 2015.
Oil paint on plywood (6 1/4" x 5").

$56

Friperie et Soutiens-Gorge  S'Habiller Moins Cher
SKU: SN-255

A. Folly, Togo, 2016.
Oil paint on plywood (6 1/4" x 5").

$56

Taxi Brousse du Togo
SKU: SN-248

by A. Folly, Togo, 2016
Oil paint on plywood (5 1/4" x 6 1/4")

$56

Millenium Tresse & Tissage Hair-braider's Sign
SKU: bs-117

by Lawa, Togo, c.1990s
Oil paint on plywood (43" x 24" x 4").  

Sign is now sold but you can still buy the postcard!

$750

Product Status: 
Sold
Four Strong Women - Hair Sign from Burkina Faso
SKU: BS-432

By Nikéma Rasmané Dessinateur - Burkina Faso (b.1946 - ?)
Oil paint on plywood (12 1/2" x 35 1/2")
c. 1985
Ex. Ford Wheeler Collection.

$650

Product Status: 
Sold
"I Love You" Barber Sign
SKU: BS-456

Ghana, c.1990's
Oil paint on plywood (13" x 48" x 1/4").  Current owner purchased from Totem Meneghelli Gallery, South Africa in 1990's.

$550

Product Status: 
Sold
"Chez Moustaphe" Hairdresser Sign
SKU: BS-458

Ivory Coast, c.1990's
Oil paint on plywood (20.5" x 33" x 1/4").  Current owner purchased from Totem Meneghelli Gallery, South Africa in 1990's.

$550

Product Status: 
Returned to Consignor
"Welcome to Mr. Sam" - Barber Sign
SKU: BS-457

Ghana, c.1990's
Oil paint on plywood (17" x 33" x 1/4").  Current owner purchased from Totem Meneghelli Gallery, South Africa in 1990's.

$500

Product Status: 
Returned to Consignor
Hairdresser's Signboard
SKU: BS-429

by Lebené, Togo, c.2004
Oil paint on plywood (22 1/4 " x 13 1/4").

$375

Product Status: 
Sold
Barber Sign from Cameroun
SKU: BS-ED-765

Artist unknown, Cameroun, c.1990
Oil paint on plywood (10 1/2" x 37", 26.5 cm x 93.5 cm)
Ex. Esger Duintger collection.

$350

Product Status: 
Sold
Hair-braider's Sign
SKU: bs-199

Lebené (signed L.B.N.), c.2000
Oil paint on plywood (16 " x 24").

 

$275

Product Status: 
Sold
Nice Women - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-466

Babs - Burkina Faso, 2019
Oil paint on plywood (11" x 8").

$120

Product Status: 
Sold
I'm Beautiful - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-468

Babs - Burkina Faso, 2019
Oil paint on plywood (11" x 8").

$120

Product Status: 
Sold
Ladies Choice - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-469

Babs - Burkina Faso, 2019
Oil paint on plywood (11" x 8").

$120

Product Status: 
Sold
Peace and Love - Mini Signboard
SKU: BS-467

Babs - Burkina Faso, 2019
Oil paint on plywood (11" x 8").

$120

Product Status: 
Sold
Best Barber - Mini Signboard
SKU: bS-450

Babs - Burkina Faso, 2019
Oil paint on plywood (8" x 11")

$110

Product Status: 
Sold