Anthropomorphic face mask "gu" · Côte d'Ivoire, Guro · ID: 3048905
sold
EUR 2,000
Size
H: 42 cm
H: 16.5 inch
Description
wood, pigments, rest., base
“Gu’s” even face is crowned by fine horns that are almost closed to form an oval.
For despite her human-like appearance, “gu” is considered a creature of the forest. It is quite possible that the addition of horns to the beautiful female face was intended to emphasize the non-village, forest-bound, and therefore “sacred” aspect of “gu”.
Comparing literature
Fischer, Eberhard, "Guro", Munich, Berlin, London, New York 2008, p. 223