A Gallery of African Masks
Item: A Gallery of African Masks
Product id: 2719
Brand:
Description:
Six African Tribal Masks: Form and Style
This is an exceptional collection of six hand-carved wooden masks, showcasing the diverse and sophisticated sculptural traditions of Central and West Africa.
Mask 1: The Linear Spirit (Far Left)
Description: An elongated, vertically oriented face with a pronounced, thin nose and minimal eye slits. Its most striking feature is the dramatic linear patterning—alternating bands of light and deep reddish-brown pigment that emphasize the narrowness of the form.
Style/Region: This style is highly characteristic of masks from the Gere, Wè, or Kono people of the Ivory Coast and Liberia, known for their highly stylized, abstract forms.
Mask 2: The Portrait Cap (Second from Left)
Description: A mask with a rounded, naturalistic face and a serene, almost gentle expression. The features are soft, with an oval eye opening and a small, delicate mouth.
Style/Region: The smooth, unscarred face and the dark, cap-like upper section strongly suggest a style related to the Baule or Yaure people of Ivory Coast, renowned for their elegant and serene portrait masks (Golior Mblo).
Mask 3: The Geometric Scarification (Third from Left)
Description: A powerful, deeply carved mask featuring stark geometric divisions, particularly around the eyes and brow. The lower half of the face, including the prominent, lipped mouth, is accentuated by a rich, dark patina. The forehead shows horizontal lines of scarification.
Style/Region: The dramatic use of contrasting light and dark pigment to highlight concave forms and the heavy-lidded, slit eyes are hallmarks of the Punu or Tsangui people from Gabon and Congo.
Mask 4: The Ancestral Visage (Fourth from Left)
Description: An expressive mask with deeply carved, highly naturalistic features, including an exposed mouth with carved teeth. A vertical, light pigment stripe divides the face, drawing attention to the pronounced jawline. The overall tone is a warm, raw wood.
Style/Region: The use of human-like features with an intimidating, aggressive expression often points toward the traditions of the Luba or Songye peoples of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where masks are used in ceremonies of law and order.
Mask 5: The Red Incision (Fifth from Left)
Description: A smooth, heart-shaped face with a dominant deep red (or terracotta) earth pigment covering the entire surface. The face is etched with fine, precise geometric scarification patterns that frame the eyes and cheeks.
Style/Region: Masks with extensive, fine geometric incision work and a reddish-brown color are highly indicative of the Yaka, Chokwe, or Pende traditions from Angola or the DRC, where scarification is a key aesthetic element.
Mask 6: The Elegance of Coiffure (Far Right)
Description: A narrow, oval mask distinguished by an intricately carved, layered, or braided coiffure (hairdo)that frames the face. The wood is dark, heavily patinated, and polished, emphasizing the graceful curves of the features.
Style/Region: The elegance, coiffure, and rich patina suggest a mask from the Lwena, Chokwe, or possibly the Baule people, all of whom valued the depiction of idealized beauty and complex hairstyles in their mask traditions.
Price: € 750/6p
