Anthropomorphic mask "tu bodu" from the "lo" group
Côte d'Ivoire, Yaure
sold
EUR 8,500
Provenance
Robert Duperrier, Paris, FranceFrench Private Collection, Paris (1974)
Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris,18 Octobre 1999, Lot 248
Frederic Picq, Genève, Switzerland (2002)
Christophe Rolley, Bagneux, France
Mark Eglinton, New York, USA (No 4345)
Size
H: 39 cm
H: 15.4 inch
Description
wood, native repair (top of the right horn), base
The “lo” masks appear at funeral celebrations, they are colored black. Women are forbidden to see these masks, which are considered to be particularly dangerous. It is believed that this encounter with death might jeopardize their fecundity.
With the aid of such masks, the people hope to influence supernatural powers, or “yu” spirits, that can do harm to humans, but that can also ensure their welfare.