Mask "kpélié" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo, Korhogo · ID: 3041720

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, pigment remains, with the typical small “legs” flanking the chin and ornamental side projections, grooved decor, various drilled holes, slightly dam. (right “leg”, possibly rep.), minor missing parts, abrasion of paint, base;
for a mask made by the same artist and located in the same area (Korhogo District, Lataha Village) see Fagaly, 2011, p. 79.
Depicting an idealized female face. In literature this mask type is called “kpélié”, which comes from the Senufo word for “jumping”. A generic term in later research is “kodal”.
The masks are used at funeral ceremonies. Their job is to displace the spirit of the deceased out of his house. They belong to the “poro” men society, an organization based on various age groups, which have to perform social and political control, impart traditional knowledge and fullfil various religious functions.

The object Mask “kpélié” with the object ID 3041720 was last part of the auction 86th Tribal Art Auction at May 27, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 31 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,750.

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

Fagaly, William, Ancestors of Congo Square, New Orleans 2011, p. 78 f.

Publications

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Afrikanische Kunst in Deutschen Privatsammlungen, München 1973, p. 71, ill. 81

AHDRC: 0073389