Anthropomorphic face mask "gu"
Côte d'Ivoire, Guro
not available anymore
Provenance
Merton D. Simpson, New York City, USAWilliam J. (Bill) Moore, Los Angeles, USA
Size
H: 35 cm
H: 13.8 inch
Description
wood, handwritten inventory no., “4528 - V 209”, base
“Gu” is a female being and is always carved “uanya iri nya”, i. e. according to the image of “a beautiful young woman”.
Her high-ranking position is indicated by hair that is tied up in a bunch, a high chignon adorned with an amulet. This amulet (“sa”) consists of a band with a little leather pouch (often decorated with four ivory plates) that holds verses of the Koran.
Publications
AHDRC: 0060122