A Guro Mask, Ivory Coast, with delicate yet mischievous features slanted eyes open in a slit, small upturned nose and small mouth, the large forehead emphasized by the carved coiffure which ends in a small platform that has an antelope decorated with white spots placed on top of it; The rims of the mask are punctured with attachment holes; signs of use, glossy black patina. 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: 39 cm
Weight: 1,4 kg (incl stand)