Helmet mask "korobla" · Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3032444
Description
wood, black patina, an elongated concave facial plane with long nose bridge, traces of metal tags where originally the eyes were attached, drilled hole above the forehead for insertion of feather ornament, abundant grass fibre cuff at the lower rim, slightly dam., paint rubbed off;
appearing at funeral services and above all by night when the witches use to roam the village to look for new victims. The “korobla” shall ambush them, because the Senufo belief her to be stronger than any witch. She is extraordinary fast and in former times she was known for her ability to spit “fire”. She utters long screams and as soon as she makes out a witch, she mightily chases her away.
The object Helmet mask “korobla” with the object ID 3032444 was last part of the auction 74th tribal art auction at September 7, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 162.
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Comparing literature
Förster, Till, Die Kunst der Senufo aus Schweizer Sammlungen, Zürich 1988, p. 56 f., ill. 36