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The Dan people – an ethnolinguistic grouping – has presence in the mountainous areas of Côte d’Ivoire and adjacent areas of Liberia. This particular mask is from Liberia and specifically used by the Poro . . . a secret society where only males are admitted. As…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-1763
- Provenance/Origin: Dan. Liberia. Circa late-1900s
- Composition: Wood, shells, cord
- Dimensions: 10" tall x 6" wide (wooden mask only)
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Price: $ 195.00 USD
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The Senufo people – numbering between 1 to 1.5 million and aka Siena, Senefo, Sene, Senoufo, and Syénambélé – is a West African ethno-linguistic group consisting of diverse subgroups. Their masks are varied with a range of materials. By far the most profound and valuable are…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-0357
- Provenance/Origin: Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast. Circa 1950s or earlier
- Composition: Bronze
- Dimensions: Mask: 12" tall x 6.5" wide x 3" deep. Mask on Stand: 15"
- Weight: 2.75 pounds
- Price: $ 345.00 USD
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The Lulua people – who migrated from western Africa – are made up of small regional chiefdoms. They in turn often elect a common leader . . . a village chief. Masks – like this one – are used in rituals and ceremonies related to agriculture,…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-2285
- Provenance/Origin: Bena Lulua people. Circa 1970s
- Composition: Wood and pigment
- Dimensions: 17" tall x 9.5" at widest x 8" deep
- Weight: 3.75 pounds
- Price: $ 232.00 USD
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Sharing stylistic traits with the Bamileke, Tikar and other Western Grassland Cameroon tribes, this particular mask illustrates the complexity of the transfer of styles… through migration and various artists’ interpretations… even as far back as the migrations of the 17th Century. That is what makes this mask…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-4266
- Provenance/Origin: Cameroon. Bamileke / Bamun
- Composition: Wood, brass, cotton cloth, raffia / grasses
- Dimensions: 16" tall x 11" wide x 8" deep
- Weight: 5.75 pounds
- Price: $ 345.00 USD
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Not to be confused with the Wayang Topeng mask used in a dramatic form of dance performances, this mask was used in performances and stories about the kingdom of Janggala . . . about a love story between a prince and princess. Obviously not used by the…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-1600
- Provenance/Origin: Bali through Thailand. Age unknown
- Composition: Wood
- Dimensions: 12" tall x 5.5" at widest point
- Weight: 1 pound
- Price: $ 88.00 USD
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One of the most complex and intriguing Suku mask that I have every seen! The Suku (aka Basuku) are people from SW Congo and Northwest Angola. They speak a derivation of the Bantu language of the Niger-Congo group of languages. Suku women cultivate a root vegetable…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-1227
- Provenance/Origin: Suku peoples. DRC. Mid-1990s
- Composition: Wood, pigment, paint, vegetal fiber, cloth
- Dimensions: Figure & Helmet: 17" tall; Total with vegetal fiber: 24" tall; Width at horns: 16"
- Weight: 8 pounds with stand
- Price: $ 890.00 USD
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Bordering on Cameroon and Gabon, the Bulu are part of the larger Fang group and share cultural similarities.
UNIQUE? Yes, because the Bulu practice the ngi ritual… where members wear this “gorilla” mask to ward off sorcery and poisonings. This anti-witchcraft society whose leadership is…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-9174
- Provenance/Origin: Cameroon Grasslands, mid- to late- 1900s
- Composition: Wood, Wicker Binding, Kaolin Pigment
- Dimensions: 11" tall x 8" widest x 6" deep
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Price: $ 285.00 USD
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There are about 60,000 Salampasu people who live east of the Kasai River (bordering the DRC and Angola). History reveals that they are viewed with terror by adjacent tribes (e.g. Chokwe and Lunda). The Salampasu are governed by territorial leaders who, in turn, supervise village chiefs.…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-8640
- Provenance/Origin: Salampasu tribe. DNC. Angola. Circa 1970s - 1980s
- Composition: Wood, copper, cord
- Dimensions: 15" tall X 8" wide x 10" deep
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Price: $ 365.00 USD
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Look at the dynamic carvings of this helmet mask. The high and bulging forehead is quite normal for this ethnic group. But the depth and symbolism of the carvings is quite extraordinary. I have spent some time in trying to determine the significance of this…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-8069
- Provenance/Origin: Congo. Circa mid-1900s
- Composition: Wood and Cord
- Dimensions: 15" tall x 9" wide x 8" deep
- Weight: 2.75 pounds
- Price: $ 265.00 USD
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An object d’art wooden bird mask, with a quality suitable for a museum exhibit. Superbly carved by Chokwe artisans to honor divine ancestors. Acquired from a Pretoria South African Gallery whose owner has direct access to chiefs in the Congo. Based on my purchases and…
Continue reading → - Item Number: M-2486
- Provenance/Origin: DNC, Congo. Circa 1975 - 1900s
- Composition: Wood, pigment, woven vegetal fibers
- Dimensions: 16" tall x 12" wide x 8" deep
- Weight: 4 pounds (mask alone)
- Price: $ 1,195.00 USD
