Mask Bete-Guerre - Iron, Wood - Gre or Nyabwa - Bété. - Ivory Coast - 33 cm

Unique and great old carved wood mask with metal nails. African sculpture, from the Bete and Guere tribes. Mask has a patine with traces of animal blood. 18th century. The Bete people live along the Sassandra River in the Ivory Coast and their western neighbours are the Guéré (Ngere) and Wé, from whom they borrowed some stylistic features of their art. This is the typical face mask from the Bete craftsmen, Gre or Nyabwa, exaggerated grimacing distorted features, large and protruding mouth, facial protuberances, bulging forehead, elongated nose and nostrils sometimes extending to the sides of the face. They also feature globular/bulging slit eyes set beneath a high-domed forehead carves with a medium ridge. In earlier days, this type of mask presided over the ceremony held whit the peace restauration, after armed conflicts; it also participated in sessions of customary justice. Another use was to prepare men for war. The masks gave magical protection by instilling fear and terror in potential enemies. Nowadays, though, it’s worn in a variety of ceremonies such as funerals or during judicial proceedings and, at times, also to just entertain clansmen and villagers. Weight: 1Kg. E183