Fire spitter mask "wanjugo" · Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3032628
sold
EUR 4,600
Provenance
Josef Mueller, Solothurn, SwitzerlandChristie’s London, “The Late Josef Mueller Collection. Part II”, 20 March 1979, lot 40
Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland
Size
L: 117 cm
L: 46.1 inch
Description
wood, dark brown patina, encrusted in some areas, painted with dots in white and red pigment, to evoke terror the Senufo mixed parts of the anatomy of various species (crocodile jaw, wart hog fangs, mighty buffalo horns), slightly dam., cracks, rep. (one horn), paint rubbed off;
the mask type “wanjugo” belongs to the “wabele” society. The masks are greatly feared and have a powerful magic potential. Usually they have a small circular receptacle on the top of the cranium, filled with magic substances. Sometimes they are called “firespitter” masks. In former times their open mouth used to be filled with blaze, which the dancers blew to showers of sparks.
Comparing literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, ill. 12, ill. 52