{"title":"African Masks","description":"\u003cp\u003eAuthentic African masks from West and Central Africa: Dan, Baule, Guro, Mende, Yoruba, Punu, Chokwe and Pende.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn African mask was made to be worn. It appeared in public with a costume, music and dance, usually as the visible form of a spirit or an ancestor, and the carved face now shown on a wall was one part of that whole. Who could commission a mask, who could wear it and when it could be seen were matters governed by the societies that owned it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Dan of Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire carved the smooth oval face with narrowed eyes known as deangle, and the miniature passport masks that an owner carried for protection. Among the Mende of Sierra Leone the black helmet mask of the Sande society, with its ringed neck and dressed hair, is worn by women, which is rare in African masquerade. Baule and Guro carvers in Côte d'Ivoire made the horned disc of the Goli kple kple and the antelope-faced Zamble. The Yoruba Epa mask of Nigeria is a helmet that carries a carved figure above it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Central Africa, the white-faced masks of the Punu of Gabon and the Pwo masks of the Chokwe both portray an ideal of female beauty, though they are danced by men.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach entry names the people and region, describes the type and condition, and states provenance where it is known. Every piece is guaranteed authentic and comes with a certificate of authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"copy-of-kota-reliquary-figure-mbulu-ngulu","title":"Suku Helmet Mask with Raffia Collar","description":"\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eDR Congo, early–mid 20th century AD.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003ePowerful wooden helmet mask carved with an oval face, slit eyes under arched lids, slender triangular nose, and small puckered mouth, flanked by projecting circular ears. The domed coiffure rises to a central crest, and the lower edge retains its dense natural raffia fiber collar, giving the mask impressive volume in performance. Traces of white kaolin and dark pigment remain on the surface, emphasizing the mask’s calm, introspective expression typical of Suku initiation “hemba” masks used in male initiation rites.\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-pplx-citation-url=\"https:\/\/ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com\/web\/direct-files\/attachments\/images\/43629646\/5b926e6b-136c-4b38-a3c0-e9aa08b176bb\/11415.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYETYDWGBMV\u0026amp;Signature=GZ5V3g14qWZCOAURSD9pO8oREIA%3D\u0026amp;x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEIP%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIEjpn3SMZMX%2F6UYpDF1gSGyN71Q5G1A3aQpn99v6C6XIAiEAijKxXdsgiEDKQcADDQ%2BGrAX%2FdLuvhbpyv3ViGn3UH4Eq8wQITBABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDHMTwdE5S4BO7n2sFSrQBOFNpeOoPiJX7vHgTelb2tWprxhOhPbqC2mVHnULr4ylJYFUe%2Bvo%2BhYB8kf7m5%2FS0sYFVUq%2BpR8y%2BU3YjQ8QF%2BQM5UgbX4ov881a288zQzRTgwD1dlz%2BBLwUD5mVdlvgn7XO6HNtKo73ZUcPdQgt259nJ41NcOHMM%2BlWk8K0WmzxyBuLhwwcr%2FKE36d4eaBUTaTzOWvYYl8zTX191%2FcN9AVU%2FHuV8H237suzKxgEWX0aw1rzpIEbAKRj5r1y320IB64hTVUgKJTaEjr%2F%2BVjUkF7Che0PlpgeBD7U6dtLdH9Cn9%2FIWv86Xp88SpCce%2F3ZsBxaCG45uYFoBPiUqxK8G1wvxe15UvhYU%2FrZS3UkZK3fBSdw9QxWZd4Qd0dCE2oXVrsq%2FDMVEjsQr6ss7kJC6jgaaFRMNwAGgkv6GVQObzvam3fhhgC%2FAjzV%2FYrWDUK77Zd5lNkWfEXXSvDBEJMlabmqUgTcWp6SQkyzU93M4zrZWfPUq%2FelfuIrHgRYokMX034pDqjSISjWKkKnXhHCjVVHiLfLd5xG8ZZiN4u1%2FiSsnU8lfTyb77ZtOnEtJhOkxvwjO7SDnMsF3PNn23HHfl%2BjOLGMib%2Bix86UdMtQYtUb79sL1JwhvGw2ysiV6DLFBZ7WD75Cgr1%2BMQKwZTJE39Asg%2Bu9iNrwK%2Ffr6uqadaod%2F6vLOB0Clp3Q2PPNo0LvXRoEpcQsjnDRDGsivEv2GfESmiQEQS%2Fa4%2BLJUN5u9lMLxeDztOf0Z3jV87KzDyFAQH%2Bou0GQL8M97e1frccEmZ0wj%2FO70QY6mAFHMUq9EYRN8ODl8%2B7fY1glMiy%2Fy%2FNftAyCOdyjKtI5XzDoU7NPzIOJ3PSSzkn81r2JlRfIPEDlhborJmGW3jLSN7E376qS2u86PwoeUhcMU3DUPNq8O9qZvZfTfkDBUycfPOdBPTektA3%2BNSbFsbyEqj0Y8VllpW6RZZPTrTn6bUPMhJhqdePNhZ7MarbscWy4Lu3vRhK9jw%3D%3D\u0026amp;Expires=1781466978\" data-pplx-citation=\"\" class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003cspan data-state=\"closed\" class=\"group\/trigger inline-flex min-w-0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-pplx-citation-url=\"https:\/\/sacredart.caaar.duke.edu\/artifacts\/suku-helmet-mask\/\" data-pplx-citation=\"\" class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003cspan data-state=\"closed\" class=\"group\/trigger inline-flex min-w-0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eSize: approx. 25 in (63.5 cm) high including raffia and modern lucite base.\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-pplx-citation-url=\"https:\/\/sacredart.caaar.duke.edu\/artifacts\/suku-helmet-mask\/\" data-pplx-citation=\"\" class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003cspan data-state=\"closed\" aria-label=\"Suku helmet mask - The Sacred Arts of the Black Atlantic\" class=\"inline-flex\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sacredart.caaar.duke.edu\/artifacts\/suku-helmet-mask\/\" class=\"inline-flex max-w-full min-w-0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan 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href=\"https:\/\/ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com\/web\/direct-files\/attachments\/images\/43629646\/5b926e6b-136c-4b38-a3c0-e9aa08b176bb\/11415.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYETYDWGBMV\u0026amp;Signature=GZ5V3g14qWZCOAURSD9pO8oREIA%3D\u0026amp;x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEIP%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIEjpn3SMZMX%2F6UYpDF1gSGyN71Q5G1A3aQpn99v6C6XIAiEAijKxXdsgiEDKQcADDQ%2BGrAX%2FdLuvhbpyv3ViGn3UH4Eq8wQITBABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDHMTwdE5S4BO7n2sFSrQBOFNpeOoPiJX7vHgTelb2tWprxhOhPbqC2mVHnULr4ylJYFUe%2Bvo%2BhYB8kf7m5%2FS0sYFVUq%2BpR8y%2BU3YjQ8QF%2BQM5UgbX4ov881a288zQzRTgwD1dlz%2BBLwUD5mVdlvgn7XO6HNtKo73ZUcPdQgt259nJ41NcOHMM%2BlWk8K0WmzxyBuLhwwcr%2FKE36d4eaBUTaTzOWvYYl8zTX191%2FcN9AVU%2FHuV8H237suzKxgEWX0aw1rzpIEbAKRj5r1y320IB64hTVUgKJTaEjr%2F%2BVjUkF7Che0PlpgeBD7U6dtLdH9Cn9%2FIWv86Xp88SpCce%2F3ZsBxaCG45uYFoBPiUqxK8G1wvxe15UvhYU%2FrZS3UkZK3fBSdw9QxWZd4Qd0dCE2oXVrsq%2FDMVEjsQr6ss7kJC6jgaaFRMNwAGgkv6GVQObzvam3fhhgC%2FAjzV%2FYrWDUK77Zd5lNkWfEXXSvDBEJMlabmqUgTcWp6SQkyzU93M4zrZWfPUq%2FelfuIrHgRYokMX034pDqjSISjWKkKnXhHCjVVHiLfLd5xG8ZZiN4u1%2FiSsnU8lfTyb77ZtOnEtJhOkxvwjO7SDnMsF3PNn23HHfl%2BjOLGMib%2Bix86UdMtQYtUb79sL1JwhvGw2ysiV6DLFBZ7WD75Cgr1%2BMQKwZTJE39Asg%2Bu9iNrwK%2Ffr6uqadaod%2F6vLOB0Clp3Q2PPNo0LvXRoEpcQsjnDRDGsivEv2GfESmiQEQS%2Fa4%2BLJUN5u9lMLxeDztOf0Z3jV87KzDyFAQH%2Bou0GQL8M97e1frccEmZ0wj%2FO70QY6mAFHMUq9EYRN8ODl8%2B7fY1glMiy%2Fy%2FNftAyCOdyjKtI5XzDoU7NPzIOJ3PSSzkn81r2JlRfIPEDlhborJmGW3jLSN7E376qS2u86PwoeUhcMU3DUPNq8O9qZvZfTfkDBUycfPOdBPTektA3%2BNSbFsbyEqj0Y8VllpW6RZZPTrTn6bUPMhJhqdePNhZ7MarbscWy4Lu3vRhK9jw%3D%3D\u0026amp;Expires=1781466978\" class=\"inline-flex max-w-full min-w-0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eCondition: Age‑appropriate wear with abrasions, pigment losses, minor chips and small losses to the wood and raffia; old soiling and handling patina inside the helmet, with residual attachment elements visible.\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-pplx-citation-url=\"https:\/\/ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com\/web\/direct-files\/attachments\/images\/43629646\/8a4d619f-23e4-4a41-88e4-c0c5226d1323\/11415f.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYETYDWGBMV\u0026amp;Signature=xTgGulljTV11XZHKISSlBpOMKpc%3D\u0026amp;x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEIP%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIEjpn3SMZMX%2F6UYpDF1gSGyN71Q5G1A3aQpn99v6C6XIAiEAijKxXdsgiEDKQcADDQ%2BGrAX%2FdLuvhbpyv3ViGn3UH4Eq8wQITBABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDHMTwdE5S4BO7n2sFSrQBOFNpeOoPiJX7vHgTelb2tWprxhOhPbqC2mVHnULr4ylJYFUe%2Bvo%2BhYB8kf7m5%2FS0sYFVUq%2BpR8y%2BU3YjQ8QF%2BQM5UgbX4ov881a288zQzRTgwD1dlz%2BBLwUD5mVdlvgn7XO6HNtKo73ZUcPdQgt259nJ41NcOHMM%2BlWk8K0WmzxyBuLhwwcr%2FKE36d4eaBUTaTzOWvYYl8zTX191%2FcN9AVU%2FHuV8H237suzKxgEWX0aw1rzpIEbAKRj5r1y320IB64hTVUgKJTaEjr%2F%2BVjUkF7Che0PlpgeBD7U6dtLdH9Cn9%2FIWv86Xp88SpCce%2F3ZsBxaCG45uYFoBPiUqxK8G1wvxe15UvhYU%2FrZS3UkZK3fBSdw9QxWZd4Qd0dCE2oXVrsq%2FDMVEjsQr6ss7kJC6jgaaFRMNwAGgkv6GVQObzvam3fhhgC%2FAjzV%2FYrWDUK77Zd5lNkWfEXXSvDBEJMlabmqUgTcWp6SQkyzU93M4zrZWfPUq%2FelfuIrHgRYokMX034pDqjSISjWKkKnXhHCjVVHiLfLd5xG8ZZiN4u1%2FiSsnU8lfTyb77ZtOnEtJhOkxvwjO7SDnMsF3PNn23HHfl%2BjOLGMib%2Bix86UdMtQYtUb79sL1JwhvGw2ysiV6DLFBZ7WD75Cgr1%2BMQKwZTJE39Asg%2Bu9iNrwK%2Ffr6uqadaod%2F6vLOB0Clp3Q2PPNo0LvXRoEpcQsjnDRDGsivEv2GfESmiQEQS%2Fa4%2BLJUN5u9lMLxeDztOf0Z3jV87KzDyFAQH%2Bou0GQL8M97e1frccEmZ0wj%2FO70QY6mAFHMUq9EYRN8ODl8%2B7fY1glMiy%2Fy%2FNftAyCOdyjKtI5XzDoU7NPzIOJ3PSSzkn81r2JlRfIPEDlhborJmGW3jLSN7E376qS2u86PwoeUhcMU3DUPNq8O9qZvZfTfkDBUycfPOdBPTektA3%2BNSbFsbyEqj0Y8VllpW6RZZPTrTn6bUPMhJhqdePNhZ7MarbscWy4Lu3vRhK9jw%3D%3D\u0026amp;Expires=1781466978\" data-pplx-citation=\"\" class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003cspan data-state=\"closed\" class=\"group\/trigger inline-flex min-w-0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eProvenance: Private collection, Palm Beach, Florida.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45350491160890,"sku":"11415","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/11415aa.jpg?v=1687819852"},{"product_id":"yoruba-wood-carved-epa-helmet-mask","title":"Yoruba Wood Carved Epa Helmet Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eNigeria, 19th Century AD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell carved helmet mask with small ball between open pointed teeth and deep inset eyes. A native repair has spiral horned head of an ibex pinned atop. Complex old encrusted patina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 15-1\/2 inches Height. Splits and nicks, encrustations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx. Pace Primitive, New York; Ex. California collector; Yale Archive (0089324-01)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompare similar example in African Art by frank Willet.  \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45796218274106,"sku":"10690","price":4000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/10690wa.jpg?v=1693065143"},{"product_id":"winiama-carved-wood-heirloom-mask-shrine","title":"Winiama Carved Wood Heirloom Shrine Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eBurkina Fasso 19th Century AD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn expressive abstract sculpture composed of a spherical facemask section, pierced at the mouth with an upper section of a human figure extending from the top, the body abstractly thin and the angular arms bent at the elbows and held at waist. Varied nut brown patina and wear and heavy encrustation to surface.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSize 23 in H. (58cm) + custom mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr. C Roy suggests....It was used for many years as a shrine, so it must have belonged to a very elderly Winiama man.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePowerful example. Ex George L Sturman Collection, Exhibited: Africa Speaks, 1998 at the Las Vegas Art Museum.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46499629695290,"sku":"10480","price":3450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/10480bh.jpg?v=1693059816"},{"product_id":"dan-we-wood-mask","title":"Dan Kagle Wood Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eLiberia, Ivory Coast\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell rendered mask broken down into pure geometric volumes similar to modern art form;  bold with exaggerated, projecting, open mouth with triangular flat nose and an \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 8 inches H. + custom mount. Varied patina, small loss to back of mask near jaw line in \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Provenance: Estate of Marianne Spiegel, Park Avenue, New York 1980s\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47541561622842,"sku":"15143","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/15143bl.jpg?v=1705675674"},{"product_id":"pende-wood-carved-mask","title":"Eastern Pende Panya Ngombe Mask","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"has-inline-images my-2 first:mt-0 [\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])+\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;:has(table)_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;_h1:first-of-type]:mt-8 [\u0026amp;_h2:first-of-type]:mt-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:first-child]:mt-0 [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:last-child]:mb-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eDemocratic Republic of the Congo\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"has-inline-images my-2 first:mt-0 [\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])+\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;:has(table)_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;_h1:first-of-type]:mt-8 [\u0026amp;_h2:first-of-type]:mt-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:first-child]:mt-0 [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:last-child]:mb-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eA finely balanced Eastern Pende\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003epanya ngombe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emask of broad, horizontally extended form, the anthropo-zoomorphic face combining human features with the lateral horn-like extensions of a buffalo. The face is carved with elongated slit eyes beneath a short overhanging forehead, a long slender nose, and a small rectangular mouth, with stepped triangular motifs framing the lower perimeter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eThe surface shows a variegated dark brown and reddish-brown patina with areas of wear and abrasion consistent with age and handling. The strong planar carving, compressed facial proportions, and geometric border treatment are characteristic features of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003epanya ngombe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emasks, which are described in published examples as wide wooden masks with inset features and triangular ornament.\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"group\/trigger inline-flex min-w-0\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"has-inline-images my-2 first:mt-0 [\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])+\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;:has(table)_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;_h1:first-of-type]:mt-8 [\u0026amp;_h2:first-of-type]:mt-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:first-child]:mt-0 [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:last-child]:mb-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eAmong the Eastern Pende, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003epanya ngombe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emask is understood as representing a buffalo, an animal associated with authority and dignity. Published examples note that such masks were formerly connected with the insignia of important chiefs, known as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003embuya jia ufumu\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" class=\"inline-flex max-w-full min-w-0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asianafricanart.com\/product\/panya-ngombe-mask-wood-pende-congo-60-1159\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eThe form’s emphatic width, horn-like projections, and disciplined geometry give the mask a commanding frontal presence. Its visual language contrasts sharply with Kwele\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003epipibudze\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eekuk\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emasks, which are typically associated with the Kwele peoples of Gabon\/Republic of Congo and often feature heart-shaped, kaolin-whitened faces rather than the Pende buffalo-derived horizontal format.\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"group\/trigger inline-flex min-w-0\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"has-inline-images my-2 first:mt-0 [\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])+\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;:has(table)_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;_h1:first-of-type]:mt-8 [\u0026amp;_h2:first-of-type]:mt-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:first-child]:mt-0 [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:last-child]:mb-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eSize 17 inches  (43.2 cm) wide x 8.5 inches (21.6 cm)  high + custom base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\"\u003eProvenance: Sotheby’s, Paris, December 6, 2005, lot 118; Paolo Morigi, Lugano; Gaston de Havenon, New York. Recorded in AHDRC as object ao-0038531, per your supplied documentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"has-inline-images my-2 first:mt-0 [\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])+\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;:has(table)_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;_h1:first-of-type]:mt-8 [\u0026amp;_h2:first-of-type]:mt-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:first-child]:mt-0 [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:last-child]:mb-0\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"has-inline-images my-2 first:mt-0 [\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])+\u0026amp;:has([data-inline-type=image])_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;:has(table)_[data-inline-type=image]]:hidden [\u0026amp;_h1:first-of-type]:mt-8 [\u0026amp;_h2:first-of-type]:mt-6\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"prose dark:prose-invert inline leading-relaxed break-words min-w-0 [word-break:break-word] [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:first-child]:mt-0 [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;*:last-child]:mb-0\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48342449488186,"sku":"16125","price":4995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16125blu.jpg?v=1713647785"},{"product_id":"african-wood-carved-bete-mask","title":"African Wood Carved Bete Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eLiberia\/Ivory Coast\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCharacterized by spool shaped protruding eyes and mouth, thick triangular nose,  two sets of semicircular horns; one set rises from cheeks and descends to the chin, the other running across the forehead; a ridged, protruding forehead. Nails from attachments remain. Good condition, some wear and tacks missing. \u003cbr\u003eSize:  9-1\/2 inches H. \u003cbr\u003eEx Valery Giscard D’Estaing Collection acquired at Beaussant Lefevre, Drouot Paris.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48995782787386,"sku":"16180","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16180bla.jpg?v=1719879415"},{"product_id":"pair-benin-bronze-hip-masks","title":"Pair Benin Bronze Hip Masks","description":"\u003cp\u003eBenin Kingdom, Nigeria,  XIXth century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth matched fine castings of ancestral Obas (kings) with symmetrical pleasing facial features, neck collars and headdresses.  Pierced for attachment.  Excellent aged patinas. Functioned as high status regalia in Royal court.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions  17.0 cm (6.7 in) H. ea + custom mounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProvenance  Jul 3, 1990, Christie's - Tribal Art Lot 51.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50245235966266,"sku":"16301","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16301blu.jpg?v=1731779756"},{"product_id":"african-ibibio-wood-carved-mask","title":"African Ibibio Wood Carved Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eNigeria, Late 20th century AD.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOval mask with circular features, black painted with white and red accents. Rattan strips woven along back for attachment to costume. \u003cbr\u003eSize 14 inches H. + base; distressed  condition, perhaps from overuse. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx Collection of Dr. M. Best, Riverdale N.Y. acquired in the 1980s\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50548113146170,"sku":"15725","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/15725.jpg?v=1737413029"},{"product_id":"african-dan-we-wood-carved-passport-mask","title":"African Dan We Wood Carved Passport Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the Ivory Coast\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell carved bold with exaggerated, projecting, open mouth with triangular  nose and an overhanging cheeks and forehead. Fine, encrusted, dark brown aged patina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 3-1\/4 inches Height (5-1\/4 in. on custom mount.)  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx  Howard Feldman Collection , Santa Fe NM.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51104275333434,"sku":"15356","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/15356bl.jpg?v=1743799554"},{"product_id":"dan-ngere-cubist-wood-mask","title":"Dan Ngere Cubist Wood Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eIvory Coast,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethe face with jutting tubular eyes, large mouth with thick lips and tongue sticking out, mustache, horns, and ridged forehead, also with metal, raffia and cloth attachments. Pierced along edges. Well varied aged worn patina.\u003cbr\u003eSize: 5-1\/2 in H. + custom base. \u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Gérald Minkoff and Muriel Olesen, Geneva.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51530741678394,"sku":"16847","price":1750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16847bl.jpg?v=1751402198"},{"product_id":"fine-baule-wood-carved-mask-1","title":"Fine Baule Wood Carved Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis striking mask is a classic example of a Baule portrait mask, known as an ***Mblo*** or ***Ndoma***, from the Baule people of Côte d'Ivoire. Its primary function is not religious but social and celebratory; it is created to honor a specific, respected member of the community in a secular entertainment performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere are the key functions and characteristics of this type of mask:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* **A Public Tribute:** The mask is an artistic tribute to a living person who is admired for their beauty, character, or accomplishments. It is considered an \"artistic double\" or \"namesake\" of the individual being honored.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* **Idealized Portrait:** Rather than a literal portrait, the mask represents an idealized vision of the honored person. The features you can see—such as the high forehead, downcast eyes, serene expression, and intricate hairstyle—are meant to convey qualities like wisdom, modesty, and beauty. The small marks on the forehead and cheeks represent scarification, a traditional sign of cultural identity and beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* **Entertainment Performance:** The mask is the centerpiece of a public performance known as *Mblo* (or sometimes *Gbagba*). A costumed dancer, typically a man, wears the mask to impersonate the honored individual. The performance includes dancing, music, and skits that may praise or gently caricature well-known people in the village.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* **The Honoree's Role:** During the performance, the person being honored is present and often accompanies the masked dancer. This interaction between the person and their \"artistic double\" is the culminating moment of the dance, creating a powerful public celebration of the individual.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn essence, the function of this mask is to celebrate an individual's life and virtues through a dynamic and artistic community performance, making it a sophisticated form of social commentary and honor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIvory Coast; Cote D’Ivorie.  19th Century to 20th Cent. AD.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fine and expressive wood face mask with  crested coiffure in tight lines, thin arched brows, pierced slit eyes, slender elegant nose, small grooved mouth with scarification at corners.  Excellent deep black patina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions:  11-3\/4 inches H.  + custom mount\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Ex. Robert Berg collection, California\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFine style masterful carving of a hardwood.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51531179295034,"sku":"16849","price":4200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16849bl.jpg?v=1751409051"},{"product_id":"dan-poro-mask","title":"Dan Poro Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Dan Yacouba Poro mask is a significant artifact tied to a powerful and complex institution in West African societies. Here's an elaboration on the Poro society and the role of this particular mask within it:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**The Poro Society: A Cornerstone of West African Culture**\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Poro is a highly influential male secret society found among various ethnic groups in West Africa, including the Dan (also known as Yacouba), Senufo, Mende, and Kpelle, primarily in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire. It's more than just a secret society; it functions as a central organizing force in many communities, playing roles in:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* **Education and Socialization:** The Poro is fundamentally an initiation society. Young men (and often women, through a parallel Sande society) undergo a rigorous period of seclusion and training, sometimes lasting for years. During this \"bush school,\" initiates are taught the history, traditions, laws, and moral codes of their community. They learn practical skills, their responsibilities as adults, and how to navigate the spirit world. This process marks their transition from childhood to full adulthood and citizenship within the community.\u003cbr\u003e* **Governance and Law Enforcement:** Poro societies often hold significant political power. They enforce laws, settle disputes, maintain social order, and can even influence the selection of chiefs and leaders. Their authority is derived from their connection to powerful spirits and ancestors.\u003cbr\u003e* **Spiritual and Religious Life:** The Poro facilitates communication with the spirit world, ancestors, and deities. Rituals and ceremonies aim to ensure the well-being of the community, promote fertility (both human and agricultural), and protect against malevolent forces.\u003cbr\u003e* **Cultural Preservation:** Through their elaborate rituals, songs, stories, and art (like this mask), the Poro societies transmit cultural knowledge and traditions from one generation to the next, ensuring the continuity of their heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**The Role of This Specific Dan Yacouba Poro Mask**\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular mask, described as having \"red and white pigments probably representing disease and sick face,\" speaks to several aspects of Poro society practices:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* **Initiation Ceremonies:** The description states it was \"For initiation into the secret Poro society.\" Masks are central to Poro initiation. They embody powerful spirits that guide, test, and instruct the initiates. The \"sick face\" appearance might symbolize the transformative process of initiation itself – a symbolic death of the child and rebirth as an adult, or perhaps a representation of the challenges and trials faced during this intense period.\u003cbr\u003e* **Symbolism of \"Disease\/Sick Face\":** This unique aesthetic choice could hold several meanings:\u003cbr\u003e    * **Transformation and Vulnerability:** The \"sick face\" could represent the vulnerability of initiates as they shed their old selves and undergo a profound transformation. It might also symbolize the trials and suffering endured during the intense training, leading to a new, stronger identity.\u003cbr\u003e    * **Ritual Healing or Cleansing:** In some African belief systems, masks with unusual or even unsettling features can embody spirits that have the power to heal or cleanse. The \"sick face\" could be invoked to ward off actual illness, or to ritually purge impurities from the initiates or the community.\u003cbr\u003e    * **Power and Fear:** Masks often inspire awe and even fear in the uninitiated, reinforcing the power and secrecy of the society. A \"sick face\" could contribute to this mystique, indicating a spirit that deals with profound and perhaps dangerous forces.\u003cbr\u003e    * **Specific Ritual Context:** The exact meaning would be deeply rooted in the specific rituals of the Dan Yacouba. It might be used in a particular stage of initiation, perhaps one focused on overcoming adversity, understanding mortality, or connecting with ancestral spirits who may have experienced illness in their lives.\u003cbr\u003e* **\"Worn by the soldiers\":** The mention of the mask being \"worn by the soldiers\" suggests its use by a specific group within the Poro hierarchy, possibly those responsible for maintaining order, protecting the initiates during seclusion, or engaging in ceremonial displays of strength and discipline.\u003cbr\u003e* **Connection to the Spirit World:** For the Dan, like many West African peoples, masks are not merely decorative objects but living entities imbued with the spirit they represent. When worn by a masker, the mask becomes a vessel for that spirit, enabling it to interact with the human world during ceremonies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn summary, this Dan Yacouba Poro mask is not just an artistic creation; it is a potent ritual object, deeply embedded in the social, religious, and educational fabric of the Poro society. Its distinctive \"sick face\" motif adds layers of meaning related to transformation, healing, power, and the profound journey of initiation into adulthood within this significant cultural institution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSize 8-3\/4 in H. + Custom mount.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx David Zemanek PhD; Wurzburg Germany\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51531226612026,"sku":"16855","price":2800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16855blu.jpg?v=1751410352"},{"product_id":"punu-wood-carved-white-painted-face-mask","title":"Punu Wood Carved White Painted Face Mask","description":"\u003cp class=\"my-0\"\u003efrom southern Gabon, Central Africa, \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-0\"\u003eThe mask is characterized by its hollow, oval-shaped face that tapers elegantly to a pointed chin. The perimeter is decorated with incised striations, and the surface shows signs of age, including splits along both sides—one of which is notably large—as well as minor chips, scratches, and imperfections, all contributing to its authentic, time-worn patina.\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-nowrap\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-0\"\u003eThe mask features an elaborate, striated coiffure painted in dark pigment, rising in bold, sculptural ridges above the head—a hallmark of Punu artistry symbolizing status and beauty. The mouth is modeled with raised, pursed lips, while the nose is small and wide. The mask’s eyes are almond-shaped and pierced, often referred to as “coffee bean” eyes, set beneath dramatically arched brows. Semi-circular ears are carved in low relief, and the forehead bears scarification marks, a traditional signifier of identity and beauty within the Punu culture.\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-nowrap\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-0\"\u003eThe face is covered in white kaolin, a sacred clay that represents both the spirit world and ideals of purity and feminine beauty. Such masks were historically worn by male dancers on stilts during important ceremonies—including funerals, ancestor veneration, and rites intended to ensure fertility and community protection. The kaolin surface and indigo scarification grooves are typical of masks used to honor ancestors and connect the living with the spiritual realm.\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-nowrap\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-0\"\u003eSize  15.5 inches height (plus custom mount), \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance  Ex Barsky Collection, Sutton Place, acquired from Damien Reehers, Brussels.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51537284792634,"sku":"16400","price":2450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16400blu.jpg?v=1751494922"},{"product_id":"african-dan-kran-wood-carved-mask","title":"African Dan Kran Wood Carved Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eIvory Coast to Liberia\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA powerful zoomorphic form, with jutting tubular eyes, prominent, triangular nose, large open mouth showing tongue and teeth, low, grooved, overhanging forehead, and an articulated jaw. Old nails and metal attachments.  Teeth are fragmented, areas of significant erosion and surface pitting, hole near right eye, other losses and imperfections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeight: 10.5 inches + custom base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArchived on the AHDRC (object ao-0064601-001).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51784878915898,"sku":"16946","price":4495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16946blf.jpg?v=1756237058"},{"product_id":"dan-deangle-wood-carved-initiation-mask","title":"Dan Deangle Wood Carved Initiation Mask","description":"Ivory Coast\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe superb mask of oval shape with protruding semi-circular ears and angular cheeks, with pierced symmetrical slit eye holes, slender triangular nose, and open protruding fleshy lips inset with metal teeth. Rim pierced for attachment to headgear. Size 9-3\/8 inches (24cm).  Ex From the Estate of Ronald Blatt, owner of Blatt Billiards, in New York City\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51986976506170,"sku":"17087","price":1625.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17087blue.jpg?v=1760113074"},{"product_id":"african-mende-sande-society-bundu-helmet-mask","title":"African Mende Sande Society Bundu Helmet Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eSierra Leone to Liberia\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mask worn by the members of the women's Sande society. Masterfully carved with fat folds on the neck, an overall massive proportion and elaborately detailed knobbed coiffure. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVision holes pierced in neck. Signs of multiple uses as wearer after wearer has applied layers and layers of black paint. Native repairs to all hair knots atop head. Excellent patina and interior surface wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 14 inches H x 9 x 10 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx Texas Collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52186579501370,"sku":"16896","price":775.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16896bl.jpg?v=1764536314"},{"product_id":"chokwe-wood-carved-pwo-mask-1","title":"Chokwe Wood Carved pwo Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eAngola\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe carved wooden face shows the classic Chokwe canon: finely incised coiffure, arched brows, slit eyes, and scarification motifs on the forehead and cheeks, all emphasizing refinement and controlled beauty. The mouth projects slightly with a small, rounded lip form, giving the mask a composed, inward expression typical of strong pwo works. The mask represents an idealized, beautiful young woman and is worn by a male dancer during public ceremonies, initiation festivities, and entertainment performances to honor female virtues such as fertility, grace, and social harmony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis mask had a rare exceptionally elaborate feathered headdress and full fiber network that would have covered the dancer’s head, neck, and shoulders,  constructed from a wide, circular armature densely packed with natural feathers of varied tones, producing a dramatic horizontal spread that amplifies the dancer’s presence and suggests status and vitality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow the wooden face, a hand‑knotted fiber covering extends downward as a hood; it would have enclosed the performer’s head and neck so that only the mask’s face was visible, visually transforming the wearer into the female spirit being.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn motion, the broad feather disk would have swayed and rustled while the flexible fiber hood clung to the body, enhancing the illusion of a living, dancing woman rather than a male performer. The overall ensemble—face, headdress, and costume—works together to project beauty, fecundity, and social order, making this a powerful ceremonial object rather than a simple portrait.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 15\" H x 17 1\/2\" W, 36 1\/2\" H with stand\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx-Galerie Jean-Jacques Duiko, acq Amercian coll 1986\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53090354233658,"sku":"17288","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17288bl.jpg?v=1772056885"},{"product_id":"guro-wood-polychrome-painted-zamble-zamble-mask","title":"Guro Wood Polychrome Painted Zamble (Zamblé) Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003e from Côte d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast Mid-20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e A boldly carved and vividly polychromed Guro wood mask depicting Zamble, a mythical male spirit-being whose hybrid form fuses human, antelope, and leopard features. The elongated serene face is painted a brilliant green, with lowered almond eyes, a narrow nose with vertical forehead scarification above the brow, a small red-lipped mouth revealing the teeth, and a neat pointed chin. Rising above the brow is a tall openwork arched superstructure\/crest flanked by a pair of spotted serpent-like animals,  one yellow with white spots, one white with multicolored spots, a composition representing the leopard\/antelope attributes and serpent acolytes typical of the Zamble cult's iconography. The entire surface is animated with brightly painted triangles, diamonds, and ovoid pastilles in red, blue, yellow, green, black, and white; the exuberant polychromy typical of Guro masters working in commercial oil\/ripolin paints from the mid-20th century onward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZamble is part of a sacred masquerade triad with his wife Gu (beautiful and serene) and his wild grotesque brother Zuali\/Zauli, and historically performed at second funerals and commemorative ceremonies owned by specific families. The interior is deeply excavated with visible adze marks, retains its original fiber\/rattan attachment cords and traces of textile costume, and bears an applied collection label \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 18 inches L. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: From the Estate of Dr David Gardner; New York and FL; acquired Charles Goldstein, The 24 collection with metal tag no 1685. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 24 Collection was founded by Charles Goldstein (1927–2016), a legendary Miami entrepreneur who operated high-end retail galleries and showrooms. The 24 Collection featured African and Eurasian art alongside designer furnishings and jewelry, and was a significant source of African art for Florida collectors from the 1970s onward.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53414898204986,"sku":"17475","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17475blu.jpg?v=1778092474"},{"product_id":"dan-wood-passport-mask-ma-go","title":"Dan Wood Passport Mask (Ma Go)","description":"\u003cp\u003eDan peoples, Liberia \/ Côte d'Ivoire, early–mid 20th century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA finely carved miniature Dan mask, known as a ma go (\"small head\") or \"passport mask,\"  deangle feminine-beauty type of classic bi-planar, symmetrical oval form with a smoothly domed forehead, deeply recessed almond-shaped eyes beneath an elegantly arched brow, a long triangular ridge-nose, full parted lips, and a tapering pointed chin. The forehead is crowned with a band of finely incised ridges representing the coiffure or hairline, and the wood has acquired a deep, lustrous brown patina from generations of handling and ritual care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the Dan of Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire, miniature masks of this type are owned by men and women whose families possess an important full-size mask; the ma go serves as a personal amulet that maintains the bearer's connection to the protective spirit of the parent mask while travelling, and is traditionally kept wrapped in cloth or carried in a small leather pouch — the source of the European collector's nickname \"passport mask\". Diviners may also prescribe such miniatures for protective, curative, or preventative purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions: 4¼ inches high (approx. 10.8 cm); presented on a custom metal-and-wood display mount\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Excellent age-appropriate condition; rich handling patina, minor wear and small losses to nose and lip edges consistent with ritual use\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Ex collection of Mark Isaacson (founding partner of the legendary Fifty\/50 Gallery, New York) and Greg Nacozy.  The Isaacson\/Nacozy provenance is a meaningful added value — Mark Isaacson was a founding member of the influential 1980s downtown New York Fifty\/50 Gallery and a serious collector of African art alongside midcentury design and photography; the collection has been carefully preserved by Greg Nacozy since Isaacson's death in 1993.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53455457059130,"sku":"14309","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/14309blue.jpg?v=1778776037"},{"product_id":"baule-wood-goli-kple-kple-mask","title":"Baule Wood Goli Kple Kple Mask","description":"from Côte d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast\u003cbr\u003eThe circular face with flat red ground within a black rim, surmounted by the characteristic pair of inward‑curving horn projections, remnants of dark surface patina testifying to age and use. Traditionally worn in the Goli masquerade cycle to celebrate harvests, honor important visitors, or mark funerary rites, where such masks appear early in the sequence as powerful yet playful spirits.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSize: 16-5\/8 inches L. + custom mount.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: From the Estate of Dr David Gardner; New York and FL; acquired Charles Goldstein, The 24 collection. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe strong color contrasts and formal geometric form make the Kple Kple mask an effective focal points in contemporary interiors and appeals to collections that mix African, modern, and contemporary art. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53500133212474,"sku":"17476","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17476BLO.jpg?v=1779488408"},{"product_id":"african-bwa-or-nuna-carved-polychrome-wood-bird-mask","title":"African Bwa or Nuna Carved Polychrome Wood Bird Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eBurkina Faso, Mid-20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA boldly sculptural and graphically painted carved wood zoomorphic bird mask in the great mask tradition of the Bwa, Nuna, or Winiama peoples of central and southern Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta), depicting a stylized bird-headed spirit with prominent circular eyes, a powerful elongated beak with serrated \"teeth,\" and a tall superstructure crowned by a stepped X-form crest and a finial. The entire surface is painted in the canonical bichrome-tricolor palette of these masking traditions: deep red-ochre, black, and white earth pigments arranged in crisp triangles, chevrons, zigzags, and concentric \"target\" eyes that symbolically encode moral and cosmological lessons of the masking society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mask combines a predator-bird identity (likely a hornbill or owl) with a tall planklike superstructure divided into geometric registers — a hallmark of the Voltaic mask traditions of southern Burkina Faso, where the graphic painted patterns themselves carry meaning: zigzags reference the path of the ancestors, triangles represent scarification, the white \"target\" eyes suggest spiritual vision, and the X-form crest evokes both the cosmological cross and the marketplace. Such masks appear in funerary, initiation, and agricultural-renewal ceremonies, animated by costumed dancers in fiber-cape regalia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCarved from a single block of light hardwood, deeply hollowed on the reverse to fit over the dancer's head. Lateral perforations at the cheeks and temples for the attachment of fiber costume .   Very good ethnographic condition. Old vertical age cracks across the crest, expected paint wear and small losses to projecting elements, and a smoothly worn interior consistent with sustained ceremonial wear. Mounted on a custom black wood pedestal with metal armature; mask remains removable from the stand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions 25 inches H including crest. Custom-fitted black metal armature and wooden plinth for stable display adds height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBwa, Nuna, or Winiama peoples, Burkina Faso, mid-20th century (c. 1940–1970). Comparable Burkinabe plank and bird masks are well represented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art (Newfields) — which holds the Christopher D. Roy collection, the foundational scholarly reference for Voltaic masks — the Africa Museum, Tervuren, and the Musée du Quai Branly, Paris.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53512055521594,"sku":"17575","price":1450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17575bl.jpg?v=1779725919"},{"product_id":"baule-cast-bronze-miniature-maskette","title":"Baule Cast Bronze Miniature Maskette","description":"\u003cp\u003eIvory Coast, Côte d'Ivoire, 20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA finely sculptural and tactile Baule (Côte d'Ivoire) cast bronze miniature maskette head in the Akan-related lost-wax tradition, modeled with a serene high-domed forehead, finely arched scarification brow ridges with central comb-bar tattoo, almond-shaped open eyes with raised rims, a narrow ridged nose, and a small oval pursed mouth. The head is crowned by a coronet of coiled-wire \/ spring-form vertical projections — a stylized rendering of the elaborate Baule royal coiffure — flanked by twin coiled-wire spiral disc ears at the temples. The reverse is hollow, revealing the original lost-wax casting interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece belongs to the celebrated Baule lost-wax bronze tradition of central Côte d'Ivoire, in which the Baule — close cultural cousins of the Asante \/ Akan peoples to the east — produced finely modeled bronze and brass miniature heads, figures, and pendants using the cire perdue technique. Such miniature maskette heads served as personal prestige pendants, divination objects, ancestor-shrine ornaments, and dance-costume attachments, and reflect the Baule canon of idealized human beauty (ndoma) — calm features, lowered gaze, and refined coiffure — that Susan Vogel identifies as the cardinal aesthetic of Baule portraiture in Baule: African Art \/ Western Eyes (1997).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Excellent stable ethnographic condition. Patina rich, untouched, with attractive bronze highlights on the high points of the brow, nose, and coiled-wire elements. All coiled-wire crown projections and spiral ear discs intact. Securely mounted on the custom pedestal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions 2-1\/4 in H (mask alone);  3-3\/8 in H overall on custom base\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: From the estate of Jacques (1921-2023) and Frances Crampon (1922-2025). Captain Crampon was born in Belgium, joined the Merchant Marine, and eventually became a Captain in the US  Navy, on search and rescue ships. He and his wife, Frances, a singer and actress, met when she was on a USO tour to Japan.  Together they traveled the world, living for several years in Tokyo and Capetown. They were avid collectors of Asian, pre-Columbian and ancient and fine art. They also had an extensive collection of maps. Jacques and Frances settled down in the heart of Manhattan's Greenwich Village, where they remained until their deaths, after very full and interesting lives:  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53517883408698,"sku":"17569","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17569bl.jpg?v=1779830864"},{"product_id":"dan-complex-miniature-passport-mask","title":"Dan Complex Miniature Passport Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003e Dan \/ Mano \/ Gio Complex, Liberia \/ Côte d'Ivoire, First half to mid-20th Century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDense carved hardwood with a deeply encrusted, rich dark brown to black ritual patina and sacrificial\/oil libation buildup;  Strongly stylized, ovoid\/tear-drop silhouette exhibiting pure modernist reduction typical of early Dan secret society mini-masks. Domed, smooth convex forehead transitioning into an incised T-shaped nasal bridge flanked by narrow, deeply grooved horizontal slit eyes. The lower face tapers sharply to a pointed chin with a subtly carved horizontal mouth slit. A smooth, solid convex reverse lacking hollow cavity or rim holes, consistent with pocket\/pouch personal fetishes.\u003cbr\u003eMiniature masks of the Dan complex were personal sacred embodiments of spirits (du). Rather than being worn over the face, they were carried in small pouches, worn concealed under clothing, or sewn onto ritual regalia. Served as personal a talisman functioning as spiritual \"passport\" and protective charm. \u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 4 inches (10.2 cm) H (excluding custom black iron armature stand)\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003eEx NY Architect  Alfred De Vido Collection.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53932468371770,"sku":"17822","price":765.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17822.jpg?v=1787247870"},{"product_id":"dan-wood-carved-poro-initiation-mask","title":"Dan Wood Carved Poro Initiation Mask","description":"Ivory Coast \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe superb bi-planar oval mask, with pierced symmetrical eye holes, slender nose, and open protruding fleshy lips. Varied dark and light brown surface patina with some wear to periphery.  Size 8-1\/4 inches (21cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Collection of Jerry Zimler (1954–1989), a clinical psychologist of New York, NY, whose practice focused primarily on work with disturbed children.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67613700882746,"sku":"17673","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/100745.jpg?v=1790892072"},{"product_id":"ibo-igbo-white-painted-maiden-mask","title":"Ibo Igbo White Painted Maiden Mask","description":"An expressive carved wood face mask representing a spirit maiden or ancestral entity associated with the Mmwuo (Mmwo) society, Nigeria, first half of the 20th century. The mask is rendered with an elongated oval countenance coated in a traditional chalk or kaolin white slip, symbolizing purity, beauty, and the otherworldly realm of ancestral spirits. Contrasting black pigment defines the sharp, peaked coiffure, the high arched eyebrows, the framing jawline, the nose ridge, and the raised circular temple scarification (ichi or local marks). The narrow, horizontal slit apertures allow the masker vision, while the open, animated mouth displays distinct rows of serrated teeth. Asymmetrical pierced perforations appear near the forehead hairline and lower left jaw, reflecting native wear or attachment points for textiles, costumes, or crest elements. The reverse shows hollowed, gouged interior carving with deep, honey-brown handling patina, aged wear along the perimeter rim, and old attachment holes once threaded with cord.\u003cbr\u003eSize 9-1\/2 inches H \u003cbr\u003einscribed \"IBO\" to reverse.  Provenance Ex Leo Barsky Collection, Sutton Place NY, acquired at PB Eighty-Four (Parke-Bernet 84, New York), February 24, 1976 (purchased for $175.00), accompanied by photographic collector’s cataloging card bearing handwritten notations and an ink sketch of the mask. (sorry original was mislaid)","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67624402223418,"sku":"16309","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/100771.jpg?v=1791057372"},{"product_id":"dan-wood-carved-poro-initiation-mask-1","title":"Dan Wood Carved Poro Initiation Mask","description":"Carved from a dense hardwood, this powerful fragmentary mask originates from the Dan, Mano, or related Kran peoples inhabiting the Upper Guinea forest region of Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. Associated with the men’s Poro initiation society, the carving embodies the presence of an unseen bush spirit (ge or gle). Mask height 9 inches (22.9 cm); taller on custom display stand.  Its facial architecture features a high, rounded forehead that swells over heavy, arched brow ridges, giving way to large, pierced oval eye sockets accented with fine perimeter notching. A prominent, triangular nose descends sharply above fleshy, parted lips revealing carved teeth, while the lower face terminates in an elongated, rounded chin extension symbolizing the wisdom and authority of an elder.  The mask exhibits profound signs of age, ritual use, and long-term environmental exposure. Substantial vertical loss along the proper left flank and lower jaw reveals the deeply eroded, fibrous grain beneath, accentuating its expressive, sculptural silhouette. The reverse remains hollowed with visible adze tooling and lateral attachment holes where a raffia beard or concealing textile hood was once secured.    From the Estate of Ronald Blatt, owner of Blatt Billiards, in New York City\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67631093055802,"sku":"17922","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/100794.jpg?v=1791221836"}],"url":"https:\/\/howardnowes.com\/collections\/african-masks.oembed","provider":"Art for Eternity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}