Mask "korobla" · Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3032249
René David, Zurich, Switzerland (1959)
Toni Dähler, Basel, Switzerland
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
wood, matt patina, polychrome paint, composed of different animals: crocodile’s snout, tusks of a warthog, buffalo horns, crowned by a chameleon, dam., cracks, traces of insect caused damage and abrasion;
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 Mask “korobla” with the object ID 3032249 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 173 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.
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