Anthropomorphic head "gle" · Côte d'Ivoire, Wè-Guéré · ID: 3052137
Starting price
EUR 500
Estimated price
EUR 1,000
Provenance
Thomas L. McNemar, Lexington, Virginia, USASize
H: 14 cm
H: 5.5 inch
Description
terracotta, cowrie snails, feathers,
A “gle” head was a sacred object and was considered a kind of spirit that was consulted especially in divination practices.
The head was modelled from clay to which all kinds of magical substances were added and which was also coated with power-giving substances to fully activate its powers.
It has been observed that a female medium, sitting on a grass mat, carried such a “gle” head on her head. Placed in a trance state, she was able to consult the spirit personified in the “gle” head and solve the problem presented to her.
Comparing literature
Petridis, C. (ed.), Frans M. Olbrechts 1899-1958, In search of Art in Africa, Antwerp 2001, cat. 102