A Kulango mask, Ivory Coast, of dark wood, a rectangular mouth with teeth showing, half closed eyes, what appears to be a large beak coming down from the forehead to the mouth, around the face are geometric shapes of circular and square shape, painted in red and white patina; traces of use. No stand. Certificate of origin and provenance.

“The Kulango from the northern part of Côte d’Ivoire were ruled by a king and elders who directed community life, based around the agricultural calendar. The Kulango were prosperous merchants who practiced animism and resisted attempts to Islamicize their culture. However, Kulango religion and art suffered from successive incursions by Mandingo slavers and French colonialists. As a result, not much is known about Kulango masking traditions.” Source: The mask museum.

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Height: 34 cm
Weight: 1,1 kg