A Grebo mask, Ivory Coast, collected in the Sassandra region, composed of the typical Grebo set of cylindric eye series, here composed of four; signs of ritual use.

"The Grebo people inhabit the coast of Eastern Liberia and surrounding forests, and are a small ethnic group named after their migration from the Sahara region to Liberia, translating to "leaping monkey people." Known for their ferocity in battle, the construction of their mask work reflects their warrior culture, with flat war masks featuring 3D tubular eyes measuring up to a meter in height. These masks make appearances not only during battles but also at pre-dance rituals and funerals of fallen warriors.

Aside from war masks, the Grebo also create tall, flat masks with large faces and painted "buffalo horns," as well as masks that represent the ideal female, characterized by slitted eyes and a gentle expression. Both of these mask types are used during initiation rites and festive events.

Grebo masks have notably influenced the works of Pablo Picasso, who, alongside Georges Braque, created Cubism, a style that portrays subjects in 2D while combining multiple perspectives into one image. Picasso purchased a Grebo mask in the early 1900s, which inspired him as he developed Cubism, culminating in one of his most well-known works, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, featuring five nude women with angular bodies and faces inspired by the Grebo mask."

Lit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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Height: 35 cm
Weight: 2,9 kg incl. stand