Parlante mask
Grebo · Liberia
Reference: MPR-2
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- Height
- 37 cm
- Material
- Wood and pigments
Male masks are mainly war masks, difficult to differentiate from the masks of their neighbours the Krus of Ivory Coast. Made on an elongated board. They…
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Full original description
Male masks are mainly war masks, difficult to differentiate from the masks of their neighbours the Krus of Ivory Coast. Made on an elongated board. They usually have an elongated nose between one or two pairs of tubular eyes. In some cases they can present up to five or six pairs of tubular eyes and are the embodiment of an ancestor, this privileged vision allows them to search all the hidden aspects of life and the world. Often endowed with a raffia beard and hair formed by painted feathers, local gallinaceae. Some masks wear more or less torn eyes and low-eyed tubular projections. Polychrome alternates the colors red, blue and white on black background.
Their masks can only be worn by initiates. They represent the ancestors and spirits of nature. Although initially they were masks of war they participated in funerals and today also in playful acts.
In this case it is a talking mask used by the griotsto make those who are going to fight hot, to sing the praises of the sovereign or to tell stories to the people. This mask has nine eyes. Dark patina produced by time.
Further technical information
- Width
- 19 cm
- Attributed period
- First third of the century XX or older
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
Country on the map
Liberia. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
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Attributions, dates and accounts come from the preserved catalogue. They do not constitute certification of authenticity or provenance. An object’s presence on this website does not mean it is available for sale.
