Horned mask of the "je" group · Côte d'Ivoire, Yaure · ID: 3040240
Philippe Ratton, Paris, France
Description
wood, blackish brown shiny patina, white pigment, regular facial features, symmetrical arranged horns, slightly dam., missing parts (chin/beard/chinplug), rep. at the same place, crack backside at the upper rim, metal base;
these masks are emblems for the idealized imagery used to pay homage to the “yu” or - “spirit powers” - intermediary spirits between “bali”, the supreme god, and humans. They are manifestations of the “spirit powers” in the human world. The mask belongs to the “je” group which is comprised ideally of seven masks which preside over the funerals of young men who have died before fatherhood. A long nocturnal watch around a large fire marks the beginning of funeral rites and it is interspersed with dances, chanting and libations of palm wine.
The object Horned mask of the “je” group with the object ID 3040240 was last part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction at February 27, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 356 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,500.
You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Comparing literature
Barbier, Jean Paul (ed.), Art of Côte d' Ivoire, Vol II, Genève 1993, p. 108, ill. 182
Publications
Mathieu, Maurice, L' art africain au domaine de Gensignac, Décembre 1999, p. 21