Kwele Booang mask
African art from Gabon
The high degree of stylization of this African mask is remarkable. The traditional masks of the Kwele, an ethnic group located east of the Fang, in Gabon, produced four types of masks including zoomorphic masks such as this one. Unlike the majority of masks in the body of African art, this one was not intended to be worn on the face but rather displayed or occasionally carried in the hand.
This Kwele mask representing an antelope was sculpted to order after the birth of a boy. Called booang, this mask represents a spirit of the bush accompanying the child for his passage to adulthood within the framework of the initiatory association Bwete.
Another very elegant example of a booang mask can be seen at the Barbier-Mueller museum in Geneva, see photo.
02117
Data sheet
- Size
- 53 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Condition
- Excellent
African art from Gabon
The high degree of stylization of this African mask is remarkable. The traditional masks of the Kwele, an ethnic group located east of the Fang, in Gabon, produced four types of masks including zoomorphic masks such as this one. Unlike the majority of masks in the body of African art, this one was not intended to be worn on the face but rather displayed or occasionally carried in the hand.
This Kwele mask representing an antelope was sculpted to order after the birth of a boy. Called booang, this mask represents a spirit of the bush accompanying the child for his passage to adulthood within the framework of the initiatory association Bwete.
Another very elegant example of a booang mask can be seen at the Barbier-Mueller museum in Geneva, see photo.