Mask with horns ·  Liberia, Grebo · ID: 3032285

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, abundant grass fibre beard, raised geometrical facial features, drilled holes below the eyes, slightly dam., cracks, paint rubbed off in some places;
masks of the Grebo represent spirits of the invisible world living in the forest. The masks were carved by initiates of the highest rank and were exclusively used for rites and celebrations in context of initiation. There are hardly known any figural works of the Grebo and even their masks are rather rare to be found !

Comparing literature

Kerchache, Jacques, Paudrat, Jean-Louis u.a., Die Kunst des Schwarzen Afrika, Freiburg, Basel, Wien 1988, p. 535