Lot No. 23533 African Tribal Guro Mask, Gu, Ivory Coast (Cote D\'Ivoire)
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Lot No. 23533 African Tribal Guro Mask, Gu, Ivory Coast (Cote D\'Ivoire):
$77.00
Today you have a unique opportunity to own a part of an impressive collection of original African objects which is now being liquidated due to several unforeseen circumstances. Please check out all of our sales for other interesting pieces!This mask is being sold as part of a private collection of African tribal art and artifacts. It was appraised as part of a larger collection in 2005 which has since been divided, and an appraiser estimated the value of a this Guro masks at $250 at that time. Since then the price of some authentic African artifacts has more than doubled! A copy of an excerpt from the appraisal showing this piece is in the sale photographs for your reference.Much of the collection has already been sold privately or gifted to different institutional organizations. Objects that remain from this collection are of very good quality, and some have been recently exhibited and displayed to the public in Georgia. The appraisal is not included with the sale, you are buying the mask alone.All reasonable offers considered. Please inspect photographs prior to offerding; as this is a liquidation, no refunds or exchanges are permitted.Item Number: 23533Originates from: Cote D\'IvoireMeasurements (inches): Height 24 \" x Width 6 \" x Depth 4.5 \"Condition: Nice. Please see high resolution photos for every detail.Materials/Comments: Carved Wood; Very Interesting Patina. Hornbill/bird figure at top. Some chips; see photos.
With apopulation of 200,000 the Guro live west of the Baule on the Côte d’Ivoire, in aheterogeneous area of free-filled savannas and dense tropical forest. Originally they werecalled Kweni, but they were violently colonized between 1906 and 1912 and were given theBaule name Guro by the invading French colonials. The Guro farm predominantly cotton,rice, coffee and cocoa – the men clear the field and the women plant. The daily lifeof the Guro is dominated by secret societies and by a belief in protective spirits, towhom the Guro used to build shrines and create figures. The most significant in thisrespect is the Je society, which is responsible for social, political, andjuridical questions, decisions of peace and war, policing tasks, and the detection ofdestructive forces, as well as appearing at funerals of its members. This male societyuses a variety of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic masks, some fitted with staff-likesuperstructures, all ostensibly fatal for women to view. Village life is regulated by acouncil of elders, representing each main family, and by secret societies.
The art ofthe Guro is distinguished by extreme refinement. The Baule and Guro styles are difficultto separate. The Guro style, however, has one or two distinguishing marks: the face of thehuman mask is usually longish while the forehead and bridge of the nose form an elegantS-shaped profile. The tattoo pattern cut in relief on forehead and cheeks is a repetitionof the short protruding tattoo marks on the men’s faces, and another characteristicof many Guro masks is the broad, wooden collar that serves as a fixture for the raffiacloak. There are polychrome, as well as black and brown polished masks. There is a muchstronger tendency than with the Baule to add animal features to the human face –elephant’s ears, or a superstructure in the shape of a cockerel’s or otherbird’s head. The hairdo is often carved in elaborate geometrical patterns, surmountedby horns or a totem animal. In some the nose forms an animal-like beak. Rather well knownis the zamble mask combining the features ofhyena, crocodile (or leopard) and antelope. Most of them are polychrome. There are alsohuman masks with long horns and a superstructure in the form of one or two human figures.The masks are supplemented by voluminous, multipartite costumes of palm-frond strips orreed-grass, which completely conceal the dancer’s body. At ceremonies the Je animal masks are the first to appear, and theyprepare the audience for the performance of the more powerful, anthropomorphic figures.
Lot No. 23533 African Tribal Guro Mask, Gu, Ivory Coast (Cote D\'Ivoire):
$77.00