Mask
Côte d'Ivoire, Guéré
not available anymore
Provenance
Hans Himmelheber, Heidelberg, Germany (1932)Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany
Size
H: 28 cm
H: 11.0 inch
Description
wood, black patina, wood and metal pins, big mouth with metal teeth, lower face half framed by abundant beard from plaited plant fibre strings and cloth tube, forehead ridge and -contours, as well as eyelids and nose accentuated by silver metal strips, which are partly lined with red abrus seeds (partly missing), backside: old collection label “126”, inscribed in white paint “Kr 2” at the same place, slightly dam., traces of old age;
the ferocious aspect of Ngere masks accounts for their identification as “war” masks but, according to some newer researchers, they are worn primarily during funerals and, in a “detective” capacity, to single out guilty persons.
Publications
AHDRC: 0142255