Interior designers, retailers inspired by Africa
ries,” she said.
One eye-catching piece that’s cropping up frequently in interiors is the Juju hat used in dancing rituals by the Bamileke tribe in Cameroon. The headdress features an exuberant circle of chicken or guinea fowl feathers.
Consuelo Pierrepont, designer and co-founder of Sway Studio, an interiors firm with offices in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, said the Juju hats have a softness and geometry that make them a favorite decorative element.
“They’re incredibly versatile and can stand alone as a statement or be layered into a collage wall with other art mediums or more Jujus,” she said. “Although they come in a variety of dyed colors, we love the tonal palette of the natural pieces. Jujus add so much depth and texture that a room hardly needs anything else to feel decorated.”
Pierrepont also said that carved wooden Bamileke stools have been popular with clients. The sides of the drum-shaped stools are carved in a hatched pattern, evoking a spider’s web. The stools are known as “king’s stools” because they’re used by royalty on special occasions.
“They have an appealing sculptural quality, and the real ones have a lot of character — no two are alike,” Pierrepont said. “They’re nearly indestructible; the barrel shape makes them incredibly sturdy, and the dark stain and wax finish hides everything.”
While original Bamileke tables are investment pieces, there are now less expensive versions. They can make great tables in rooms that see a lot of action, like playrooms. Some are made of resin, so they can stay outdoors. Others come in lighter finishes, like white or gold.
In her online shop, St. Frank, designer Christina Bryant offers handcrafted textiles and home decor sourced or inspired by global artisans, including some in Senegal, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and other African countries. She stocks a large selection of Juju hats, as well as collectible pieces like Ghanaian gold dust spoons, Nigerian beaded crowns, and bronze leopards and wooden antelope masks from Cameroon.
Bryant thinks that millennial consumers, who have recently entered the home market in large numbers, are driving the global home-decor trend.
“They’re the most avid travelers, interested in exploration beyond the U.S. and Europe. They also want authentic products with stories behind them, and they value ethical sourcing,” she said. “I believe they’re fueling this movement toward artisan handmade products.”