Masque anthropomorphe "geh-naw"
Libéria, Bassa
Vendu
750 €
Provenance
Justin Barthels, Maastricht, The NetherlandsTaille
H: 24 cm
H: 9.4 inch
Description
wood, pigment,
These masks were attached to a basket-like construction and worn by the dancer on the forehead. The face and upper body were hidden under fabric. The costume was complemented by voluminous grass fibre skirts that covered the rest of the body.
The imposing masked figure appeared as part of initiation rites for boys and girls when they left for or returned from the bush schools “gree-gree”.