Maske "kpelié" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3035558

Description

wood, dark brown patina, remains of pigments, crowned by a seated female, typical ornamental projections aside and next to the chin, pierced around the rim, rep. (breakages: upper projections on both sides, right arm), slight traces of abrasion, socle;
the name “kpelié” is derived from the Senufo word for “jumping” and literally means “face of the springer”. The mask belongs to the carver society “kulibèlè” and is called “woman of the old carver” in her most common female form. She appears at funerals and for entertainment. Primarily she is worn by adolescents, who are not yet initiated. “Kpelié” is regularly danced at the end of february when the hot season starts and the fruits of the kappok tree dehisce.

Comparing literature

Burkhard, Gottschalk, Senufo - Unbekannte Schätze aus privaten Sammlungen, Düsseldorf 2009, p. 147