Mask Item Number: 2960/24 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Wooden mask with very long raffia hair. Mask has a narrow pointed chin with an open mouth, small nose, and closed eyes with narrow slits for viewing holes. The brows are pronounced, a double line, rounded, meeting above the nose. Brows and eyelids are emphasized with small, evenly placed pieces of a bronze coloured metal. At the temples are carved small rectangular protrusions and the forehead is covered with rounded lines of protruding dots, holding small metal nails as decoration. Above the forehead are three prow shaped protrusions, decorated at their top ridges with metal, and carved lines down the sides. The crown of the head from the temples is decorated with embedded cowrie shells. Holes pierce the wood below the cheeks, and a wide ring of wood surrounds the mask on sides and bottom. Attached to this are mounds of raffia palm strips that serve as hair.
History Of Use
Worn at Goli festivals, which celebrate the harvest, important visits, and funerals. The structure of the face symbolizes elements of nature, such as the sun and how humanity is centred around it; raffia represents longevity and human growth.
Item History
- Made in West Africa, Africa between 1950 and 1980
- Owned by Robert Cazelais and Nicole Lachapelle before April 24, 2012
- Received from Robert Cazelais (Donor) on April 24, 2012
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- 2960/24
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- wood, palm leaf, cowrie shell and copper metal
- Overall
- height 68.0 cm, width 32.0 cm, depth 17.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Baule ?
- Previous Owner
- Robert Cazelais and Nicole Lachapelle
- Received from
- Robert Cazelais (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- West Africa, Africa
When
- Creation Date
- between 1950 and 1980
- Ownership Date
- before April 24, 2012
- Acquisition Date
- on April 24, 2012
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 2960/0024