A Guro mask, Ivory Coast,, with delicate aesthetics and harmonious a-symmetry, this item evoke feelings of tranquility and balance, thus contributing to its overall value: slit eyes marked with a large white oval circle, small pointed mouth, long thin nose, small rounded ears, the forehead has geometric shapes, there are two large horns on the top of the head, there is a smaller sculptural figure standing on the head holding the horns with its larger hands; many aged cracks, glossy by use.

“In Guro culture, distinctions are made between masquerades that are the focus of cults and those that are more secular in nature. A sequence of three sacred masks centers around Zamble, a mythical male being whose form fuses antelope and leopard features. He is in turn complemented by his beautiful wife, Gu, and his wild, grotesque brother, Zuali. Such representations are owned by certain families that use them as the loci of sacrificial offerings proposed by diviners to improve their well-being. In contrast, other Guro mask forms, which serve only as sources of entertainment, are designed by individual performers.

Lit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

sold

Height: 59 cm incl. stand
Weight: 900 g / 1,9 kg incl. stand