CATALOGUE. BRONCE MASCARAS

Among the enormous multiplicity of African ethnic groups few have made metal masks. Except for the Dogon who have built some iron mask, there is no data on other masks made of the same metal. Although more numerous the manufacture and use of bronze masks is also limited to very few ethnic groups. Although the techniques of casting bronze and lost wax have been dominant for several millennia, as evidenced by the works produced that include an important variety of objects, small figures, exvotes, heads, statues, weights weighing gold, pipes and ornaments, the existence of bronze masks seems to date from much more recent dates, about six to eight decades, except for some of Benin’s old mask. These recent invoice masks have no known ritual value, they are rather prestigious masks intended to show the rank of their owners. Most of it is true works of art that demonstrate the great technique achieved by its castors. Some ethnic groups attribute protective and healing properties to them for what they are venerated in homes.