Mask "djela" · Côte d'Ivoire, Guro · ID: 3042886
Description
wood, brown patina, remains of black colour and polychrome painting (green, red and indigo blue pigment), framed by a broad rim with incised decor, crossbar backside (for fixing the mask with the mouth), washing patina, cracks.
“Djela” is considered an offspring of the mask couple “zamble” and “gu” and even in appearance “djela” is a mixture of both of the mask types. Accordingly present mask shows snout and flat horns of “zamble” and the idealized female facial features of “gu”. The costume of “djela” is remarkable. Long raffia fiber bundles are tied around the wooden masks rim. The body of the performer is hidden by a mesh fabric. Around his waist a short raffia skirt is tied, and ruffles of the same material are attached to his arms and ankles. “Djela” is a splendid dancer who performs at all kinds of festive public occasions, but fulfills no ritual function.
The object Mask “djela” with the object ID 3042886 was last part of the auction 87th Tribal Art Auction at November 11, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 231 achieved a sales price of EUR 400.
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Comparing literature
Fischer, Eberhard, Guro, Masks, Munich, Berlin, London, New York 2008, p. 275 ff.
Notices
This object is subject to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).