Mask (1) - Cotton, Metal, Nail, Plant fibre, Wood, monkey hair - Guere / N'gere - Côte d'Ivoire

Very old mask from the Guere tribe, Ivory Coast. Richly decorated and intricately carved. Typical tube eyes, grinning mouth with white metal teeth and painted tongue. Two horizontal tusks under the nose and a protruding white triangle on the forehead, below and above it two more rectangular or round openings. The visual drama of this object is enhanced by the red and white painting, which has been renewed several times; different layers of color can be seen. This work of art is completed by various materials such as leather, cotton and raphia curtains and monkey fur. They were roughly fastened using old industrial nails of different sizes. All around a lot of tapered holes that have been chafed over the many years of use from the missing costume cords. In the middle on both sides two heavily used openings for the bite bar, through which the dancer fixed the mask in front of his face. provenance Collected by Boris Kegel-Konietzko and Lore Kegel in the 50s Boris Kegel-Konietzko has been the sole owner of the "Boris Kegel-Konietzko Ethnographica" company since 1964. In addition to selling in the home gallery, Kegel-Konietzko continues to supply museums, collectors and dealers in Europe and the USA with high-quality African tribal art.