Mask - Wood - Senufo - Côte d'Ivoire

This Kpelye Mask of the closed Poro society is associated to initiation rites of young men becoming adults. It can also be associated to agrarian rites. The summit of the head represents a hairdo with spikes, the eyes are shaped in almonds, the nose is prominent and the mouth is small. Geometric forms decorate the contour of the mask. Scarifications are visible on each side of the nose. Two appendages finish off the mask under the mouth. Hard wood with a dark patina. On the backside of the mask, there is a little missing piece which is not visible.