Bete Gle mask
African masks from West Africa
In African art on the Ivorian-Liberian border, there are traditional masks of war origin, particularly among the Niabwa and the Bété. The wearer of the African mask "Glé" here must purify himself and wear amulets to guard against the magic power that the mask itself gives off.
By its aggressive force, this Bété mask effectively fought against witchcraft. This remarkable object is the emissary of the occult powers and establishes a link between the material and invisible worlds.
Each mask of this type has an individual name generally kept secret by its wearer but belongs to the type of "Glé". Its function was to evoke a mythical past. He was made available to the chief to guarantee the prerogatives of political power.
Exhibited at the annual Bologna Tribal Art Fair in 2004.
Piece collected in the Daloa region in the 1950s. The only Bete region that uses masks. This makes it an exceptional piece added to the fact that Glé type masks are already very rare in themselves, in any case authentic copies such as this one.
Note the extremely raw and remarkable aspect of the sculpture as well as a superb patina of use on the internal face as well as the traces of adze.
01495
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1940
- Size
- 23 x 15 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Franco Maria Ricci, Italy
- Condition
- Excellent
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African masks from West Africa
In African art on the Ivorian-Liberian border, there are traditional masks of war origin, particularly among the Niabwa and the Bété. The wearer of the African mask "Glé" here must purify himself and wear amulets to guard against the magic power that the mask itself gives off.
By its aggressive force, this Bété mask effectively fought against witchcraft. This remarkable object is the emissary of the occult powers and establishes a link between the material and invisible worlds.
Each mask of this type has an individual name generally kept secret by its wearer but belongs to the type of "Glé". Its function was to evoke a mythical past. He was made available to the chief to guarantee the prerogatives of political power.
Exhibited at the annual Bologna Tribal Art Fair in 2004.
Piece collected in the Daloa region in the 1950s. The only Bete region that uses masks. This makes it an exceptional piece added to the fact that Glé type masks are already very rare in themselves, in any case authentic copies such as this one.
Note the extremely raw and remarkable aspect of the sculpture as well as a superb patina of use on the internal face as well as the traces of adze.