A Guro mask, Ivory Coast, Sonolá region, from the village Guiritafla, of oval hollowed form, a protruding, closed mouth, a short nose without nostrils framed by pierced slit eyes in slanted position, surrounded by sickle-shaped brows, the ears form semicircle with a triangles embedded in the middle, domed forehead, a zigzag framed hairstyle, which reminds of a complex crochet work, surmounted by an animal, the outline of the mask is surrounded by a serrated edge, pierced through at the rim for attachment; shiny blackened patina, traces of age and ritual use, provenance Amadou Bouaflé.

This mask is coming from the same village like another excellent Guro-mask, provenance Amadou Bouaflé. And other exemplare of Guro-mask of Sonolá regionwith charkateristic shapes.

Die profanen Guro Masken offenbaren eine besonders starke Individualisierung. Die Masken waren zur Unterhaltung der Zusachenden gedacht. Sie stellen Gesichter von Frauen mit verschiedenem gesellschaftlichem Status dar, vielleicht auch Frauen aus anderen Ethnien. 

Lit.: Eberhard Fischer: Guro-Bildhauer. In: Eberhard Fischer/Lorenz Homberger: Afrikanische Meister. Kunst der Elfenbeinküste,Zurüch 2014, p. 23-61.

Amadou Bouaflé, during his performance 30.12.2019 in his house Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

sold

Height: 35 cm
Weight: 650 g