# Primitive

> Primitive is a gallery of antique art, ethnographic artifacts, furniture, textiles, jewelry and decor from more than 100 cultures, at 130 North Jefferson Street in Chicago's West Loop (four floors, 35,000 sq ft). Owner: Glen Joffe; founded 1989. Open Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm. Telephone 312.575.9600.

"Cultural objects tell stories; and in each story a simple message is found—all cultures are the same, we just express ourselves differently." — Glen Joffe

## Visiting

- [Visit Primitive: floors, library, Collectible Home, The Stalls, hours, FAQ](https://goodoffense.com/visit/)
- [Gallery rental and events](https://goodoffense.com/events/)
- [Saturday Salons with the Juliani Ensemble (chamber music)](https://goodoffense.com/juliani-ensemble/)
- [About owner Glen Joffe](https://goodoffense.com/glen-joffe/)

## Collections

- [Artifacts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/): A riverbed on the Narmada, where the water does the polishing.
- [Fashion](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry-fashion/): A kimono sash, a Thai loom, a trapper's cap.
- [Fine Art](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/art-prints/): A thangka in lamplight, a woodblock still wet, a Ghanaian movie poster.
- [Furniture](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/): Shanxi, Lhasa, Kyoto, Kumasi: furniture has a long address book.
- [Gifts & Fragrance](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/gifts-fragrance/): A flacon on a bathroom shelf, smoke curling from a Tibetan burner.
- [Home & Accessories](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/home-accessories/): Old-world materials, ordinary rooms.
- [Jewelry](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry/): Hanuman stamped in silver, a cross carried against harm.
- [Lighting](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/lighting/): Before the wire, there was flame.
- [Textiles & Rugs](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/): A strip of raffia in the Congo, a flag in Ghana, a quilt in Sindh: the loom speaks many accents.
- [Adornment & Regalia Artifacts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-adornment/): Nagaland, before the road came.
- [African Artifacts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-african/): Mali, a blacksmith's forge at the edge of the village, the iron still warm.
- [African Textiles](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-african/): The Kuba kingdom, where men weave the raffia and women soften and embroider it.
- [Ancient & Classical Artifacts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-ancient/): Dig deep enough, anywhere, and the ground starts handing things back.
- [Antique & Vintage Lighting](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/lighting/lit-antique/): Before the switch there was the flame, and every culture had its own way of carrying it.
- [Architectural Artifacts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-architectural/): Somewhere a house came down, and its doors, posts and ceilings went on.
- [Cabinets & Storage Furniture](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/furn-cabinets/): A tall red elm cabinet in a Shanxi farmhouse, its lacquer worn thin.
- [Contemporary Jewelry](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry/contemporary-jewelry/): A silversmith's bench in Bali, a hammer ringing in the Southwest, a bead trader's tray in Nepal.
- [Decorative Accents Home & Accessories](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/home-accessories/home-accents/): The last layer of a room is always small.
- [European & Middle Eastern Textiles & Rugs](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-european/): Torah covers in gold thread, a Turkmen hat, a sack of flour in 19th-century Europe.
- [Fashion](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry-fashion/jwl-fashion/): Edo ghosts printed on silk, a Chinese collar buttoned to the throat.
- [Incense Gifts & Fragrance](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/gifts-fragrance/gift-incense/): From Japan to Arabia, smoke has risen from altars for thousands of years.
- [Objects & Vessels Artifacts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-objects/): Objects and vessels begin as practical things: something to pour from, burn in, bury with the dead.
- [Paintings Fine Art](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/art-prints/art-paintings/): Nathdwara, Lhasa, Moscow, Oaxaca.
- [Prints & Drawings Fine Art](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/art-prints/art-prints-drawings/): London, 1843.
- [Religious & Ritual Artifacts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-ritual/): Before the lamp is lit, there is the object.
- [Rings Fashion](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry-fashion/jwl-rings/): Djenne, in the inland delta of Mali, where a horse cost a fortune.
- [Rugs](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-rugs/): A belt of looms runs from Morocco to Mongolia, and it has kept the floors of the world warm for centuries.
- [Seating Furniture](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/furn-seating/): In Ashanti legend, a golden stool came down from the sky for Osei Tutu, and seating has carried weight ever since.
- [Tables Furniture](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/furn-tables/): In the hills of Burma and Thailand, a bronze drum cast with frogs was beaten to call the monsoon.
- [Tribal Jewelry](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry/tribal-jewelry/): Wealth, marriage, protection, rank, worn in metal.
- [Weapons & Tools Artifacts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-weapons-tools/): Adwa, 1896, an Ethiopian victory, and the spears that came out of it.
- [African Movie Posters](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/art-prints/art-prints-drawings/prints-african-posters/): A generator coughs to life in a village square, and a sheet goes up for the evening show.
- [Amulets & Pendants](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry/tribal-jewelry/amulets-pendants-tribal/): Before a long journey, a Dan hunter closes his hand around a mask no bigger than a plum.
- [Incense Antique Burners](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/gifts-fragrance/gift-incense/inc-burners/): Dawn at a temple, a bronze lion on the altar, smoke curling from its mouth.
- [Antique Lanterns](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/lighting/lit-antique/lit-ant-lanterns/): A caravan halts at dusk, a wick is trimmed, and a flame is sheltered from the wind.
- [Asafo Flags](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-african/af-asafo/): Drums on the coast of Ghana, and a company marching behind its banner.
- [African Basketry & Beadwork](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-african/african-basketry-beadwork/): Along the Zambezi, a woman cuts, strips, boils and dries palm fronds, and the weeks go by.
- [Seating Benches](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/furn-seating/seat-benches/): By the door of a Shanxi farmhouse stands a long elm bench, polished pale by sitting.
- [Bowls](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/home-accessories/home-accents/acc-bowls/): On Tami Island in the Huon Gulf, a long oval bowl is carved for a feast and for the exchange that follows.
- [Ceramic](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-objects/objects-ceramic/): A pot fired in grass comes out smoky and burnished;
- [Christian Art](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-ritual/ritual-christian/): A priest lifts a filigreed hand cross, and the congregation bows.
- [Costumes & Garments](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-african/af-garments/): A masquerade at dusk, drums going, and a figure that is not quite a man.
- [African Currency & Staffs](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-african/african-currency-staffs/): Before banks there were iron rods and brass rings.
- [Seating Dining & Side Chairs](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/furn-seating/seat-dining/): In Ming China a chair was joined without a single nail, and the habit lasted.
- [Earrings](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry/contemporary-jewelry/earrings-contemporary/): A silversmith's hammer, a pair of drops, a scale as small as a thumbnail.
- [Engravings & Etchings](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/art-prints/art-prints-drawings/prints-engravings/): A merchant ship's library in 1843, plates still smelling of the press.
- [Fashion Hats](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry-fashion/jwl-fashion/fash-hats/): Snow on the sill, a cap with ear flaps, a pom bobbing in the wind.
- [Rugs Hides & Woven Mats](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-rugs/rug-hides/): A Mongolian felt tent, a Tuareg camp, a fire, and something soft underfoot.
- [Incense Holders](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-ritual/ritual-incense/): Qing smoking rooms, a Tibetan shrine, a Bamileke king's brass pipe.
- [Indigo & Dida Cloth](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-african/af-indigo/): Southern Ivory Coast, raffia tubes, a funeral.
- [Judaica](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-ritual/ritual-judaica/): Fez, a Friday afternoon in the mellah.
- [Kente & Ewe Cloth](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-african/af-kente/): Bonwire, in the Ashanti heartland of Ghana.
- [Kuba & Shoowa Cloth](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-african/af-kuba/): The Kasai region, in the heart of Central Africa.
- [Lithographs](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/art-prints/art-prints-drawings/prints-lithographs/): Munich, 1798.
- [Tables Low & Coffee](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/furn-tables/table-low/): Northern China, midwinter.
- [African Masks](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-african/african-masks/): Dusk in a village of the Congo basin, and the drums start up.
- [Metal](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-objects/objects-metal/): The lost-wax method is ancient, and the idea is simple.
- [African Miniature Bronzes](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-african/african-bronzes/): Mali, a foundry yard, centuries of practice behind it.
- [Rugs Moroccan](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/textiles-rugs/tr-rugs/rug-moroccan/): The Middle Atlas in January.
- [Necklaces](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry/contemporary-jewelry/necklaces/): Old beads, like old coins, tend to find a second string.
- [Ornaments](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-adornment/adorn-ornaments/): On Sulawesi, a chieftain goes into battle with a polished brass crescent at his brow.
- [Seating Ottomans & Stools](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/furn-seating/seat-ottomans/): Kumasi, and a stool is carried reverently through the crowd.
- [Architectural Pillars & Posts](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-architectural/arch-pillars/): An Ethiopian round house, night.
- [Architectural Reliefs & Signs](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-architectural/arch-reliefs/): A barber in Ghana paints his own sign: a row of haircuts, each in bold color, each one a promise.
- [Rings](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/jewelry/tribal-jewelry/rings-tribal/): A horseman in bronze, no bigger than a thumbnail, riding a merchant's finger.
- [Architectural Screens & Dividers](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-architectural/arch-screens/): A lattice, a late afternoon, a room half seen through carved wood.
- [Stone & Terra Cotta](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-objects/objects-stone/): Shaped from earth, or dug out of it, and sometimes both.
- [Trunks & Chests](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/furniture/furn-cabinets/cab-trunks/): A dowry trunk, packed, strapped and carried to a new house.
- [African Weapons & Tools](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-african/african-weapons-tools/): The smith, in Dogon and Senufo belief, kept a private understanding with fire.
- [Wood](https://goodoffense.com/product-category/artifacts/artifacts-objects/objects-wood/): Among the Baule, a partner in the other world gets a carving of their own.

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