Mask - Wood - Guinea - Early 20th century

Anthropomorphic mask. Toma, Guinea. Late 19th, early 20th century. Wood, fabric, metal and pigments. Height: 58 cm - Length: 33 cm. Sold with a stand. Four protrusions top the crested mask, its brow arch is straight, sculpted horizontally, forming a T-shape with the nasal ridge. The eyes are two holes placed on each side of the latter. There is no mouth. Two metal inlays, most likely coins, are placed on the temples. Some fabric is still preserved on the circumference - which was used to conceal the dancer's body. They are used in dances for the last stage of the initiation rite of Poro.