Mask ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Bété · ID: 3038526

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, metal tags, narrow slit eyes with tear sacs, lattice-like teeth, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage, traces of abrasion, base;
the most famous Bete masks are those which look like a medieval helmet, with the tusks crossing the face from one side to the other and thus forming a sort of visor (copied from the Ngere masks). Lesser used are masks which combine stylistic elements of the Dan, like the forehead ridge, or metal teeth with characteristics of the other surrounding ethnical groups, as is the case with present mask.

Comparing literature

Celenko, Theodore, A treasury of African Art from the Harrison Eiteljorg Collection, Bloomington 1983, p. 76