Anthropo-/zoomorphic mask · Guinea, Toma · ID: 3042841
American Private Collection, New York
Description
wood, black patina, encrusted in some areas, compressed facial features, thin curved horns superimposed to the forehead, grooved decor on both sides of the face, old collection label on the backside, slightly dam., minor missing parts (left ear, headdress), traces of insect caused damage, base.
The Loma or Toma use three different types of masks: a male mask “landa” (“dandai”), the female type “nyangbai” and horned masks. They all belong to the “poro” men society. With present mask the human traits are strongly pronounced. Its inward-curling horns remind of the mask type “okobuzogi”, which is however much more massive and is always equipped with the toothed jaw of a crocodile.
The object Anthropo-/zoomorphic mask with the object ID 3042841 was last part of the auction 87th Tribal Art Auction at November 11, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 190.
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Comparing literature
Carey, Neil, Masks of the Koranko Poro, Amherst 2007, p. 28 Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, Munich 2009, p. 378