A Kroumain mask, Tabo region, Ivory Caost. Incl stand

The Krou masks of the Tabou region in southwestern Ivory Coast are important ritual objects carved and used by the Krou (or Kroumen) people. These masks are typically made from a single piece of light hardwood and are characterized by their smooth, oval-shaped faces with restrained, stylized features. Many masks are coated in white kaolin, a sacred clay symbolizing purity, and further decorated with red or black pigments. Geometric scarification patterns, such as lines, dots, or wave-like motifs, are often carved into the surface, reflecting local body art traditions and social markers. Some Krou masks include protruding elements like small horns or ear-like extensions, alluding to spirit animals or supernatural intermediaries. These masks are worn during significant community events, including initiation rites, harvest festivals, and funerary ceremonies. In these contexts, the mask serves as a powerful spiritual conduit, allowing the wearer—typically a senior male or ritual specialist—to become a temporary embodiment of ancestral or nature spirits. Ritual performances involving these masks are highly choreographed, accompanied by drumming, chanting, and dancing. The entrance and movement of the masked figure through the village space dramatize mythic narratives, reinforce community values, and ensure spiritual protection and social order.

As scholar Herbert M. Cole notes:
“The Krou mask exemplifies the dynamic interplay between community identity and spiritual mediation; its stylized features and symbolic ornamentation act as conduits for ancestral forces, ensuring social cohesion and continuity through ritual performance.” (African Art and Leadership, 1985, p. 127).

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Height: 30 cm / 41 incl. stand
Weight: 2,7 kg incl. stand