Mask "n‘gré" or "glé" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Bété · ID: 3047915

Description

wood, decorative nails, hide, plant fibre, base

Masks of this type, characterized by bold volumes and projecting forms are believed to embody powerful spiritual forces associated with the forest.

Scholars suggest that the tradition of masking among the Bete was introduced to the region by their western neighbors, the Wè (with the complex also including the Wobé, Kran, and Sapo).

The masks perform in a variety of contexts, including the settlement of disputes, communication of moral messages, and warfare. Their wild appearance suggests that they also had a protective function and should counteract aggressive, negative forces, sorcery and diseases.

The object Mask “n‘gré” or “glé” with the object ID 3047915 was part of the auction 96th Auction on April 24, 2021. The object with the lot number 180 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,400 with an asking price of EUR 3,500.

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.