Lot: 258
86th Tribal Art AuctionMask
Côte d'Ivoire, Ngere (Guéré)
Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
---|---|---|
Hans Himmelheber, Heidelberg, Germany (1932) Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany |
H: 11 inch | This object is not available anymore. |
wood, black patina, wood and metal pins, big mouth with metal teeth, lower face half framed by abundant beard from plaited plant fibre strings and cloth tube, forehead ridge and -contours, as well as eyelids and nose accentuated by silver metal strips, which are partly lined with red abrus seeds (partly missing), backside: old collection label "126", inscribed in white paint "Kr 2" at the same place, slightly dam., traces of old age;
the ferocious aspect of Ngere masks accounts for their identification as "war" masks but, according to some newer researchers, they are worn primarily during funerals and, in a "detective" capacity, to single out guilty persons.