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, opened mouth at the end of the jaw line, pointed nose, small ears, the hairdo is a ponytail, scarification and keloid marks on the forehead and cheeks, the rims of the mask are punctured with holes to attach a costume to it; damage around the extremities such as the mouth nose and ears, there is a big crack at the ponytail, signs of use. Certificate of origin and provenance.

“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: 35 cm / 53 cm incl. stand
Weight: 920 g / 1,83 kg incl. stand