Mask with hinged jaw "gle va"
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Lot: 206
89th Tribal Art AuctionMask with hinged jaw "gle va"
Côte d'Ivoire, Dan/Kran
| Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| American Private Collection | H: 16.9 inch |
800 EUR
plus 23 % commission, VAT, transport and insurance |
wood, fabric, cowrie shells, feather, metal sheet, rep.
"Gle va" is the most important mask spirit of an area. Its main function is to settle important disputes and make peace between villages. To emphasize its importance, it is often larger than the other masks, and physically suggests its power.
Johnson, Barbara C., Four Dan Sculptors, San Francisco 1987, p. 65, ill. 7
