A majority of art from the Americas is from before 1000 C.E. and are overwhelmingly ceramic. These earthen vessels are mostly from the Moche, Nasca, Chavin, and more similar tribes that the northern coast and valleys of Peru. These civilizations built incredible pyramids, cities, and farms. Historians believe that these groups migrated due to desertification and climate change. Hundreds of years later, archeologists excavated and sold off these peruvian artifacts, which make up a substantial part of the Wellcome collection.
A Moche pyramid
Africa
Most pieces from Africa date to the 18th century and feature wood, ivory or bone. The Fowler museum has a large collection of Lega artifacts because of donations from Jay T. Last.
The Lega are a Bantu ethnic group living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the 16th century. Beginning in the 1890's, Belgians and forced many to convert to Christianity, and imposed strict new governing laws, hindering Lega practices.
Their art includes masks, small figures, tools, and more. Examples of these are in the Jay T. Last collection in the Fowler Museum.
Asia and Oceania
Only 15% of Fowler's art is from Asia and Oceania, with the largest donor being the Pal Family with 62 pieces. Most of these date to the 16th century, and are made from wood, or a metal like brass and bronze.
