Big helmet mask of the "goli" group "goli glin"

Description

wood, dark brown patina, red and white pigment, a hollowed round facial plane with tubular protruding eyes, the nose arranged in deep grooves and ridges, turning into a big open mouth, crowned by a pair of oval horns, min. dam., cracks (left horn, backside), rep. (right horn);
the masquerade in honour of the buffalo deity “goli” is accompanied by the “kple-kple” mask family. The Baule distinguish four mask types: one couple for the young male (“kple-kple”) and one for the older male mask (“goli glin”), as well as one pair for the young female (“kpan pre”) and one for the older female mask (“kpan”). The “goli” cult was acquired from the Wan, a small Mande-speaking group living northwest of the Baule.