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Ivory Coast, Senufo culture, Korhogo region.
See original version (French)
52
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Ivory Coast, Senufo culture, Korhogo region.
See original version (French)
Estimate €800 - €1,200
Voluntary lot
Description
Ivory Coast, Senufo culture, Korhogo region. Kpelié mask, late 19th – early 20th century. Carved wood with a dark brown, partially polished patina; the face is covered in scarification marks and surmounted by stylised horns. H. 33 cm. Provenance: > French private collection
Condition report: Mounted on a plinth, traces of hollowing out, lateral holes for attaching the costume or fastening system. The Senufo occupy a cultural area situated mainly in northern Côte d’Ivoire, extending into Mali and Burkina Faso. The kpélié mask
is traditionally associated with the Poro, a male initiatory society that plays a central role in
several Senufo communities. These masks could be used in funeral ceremonies, in initiation contexts and in performances
honouring deceased members or elders. The term ‘kpelié’e’ is sometimes understood as the ‘face of the leaping dancer’, emphasising the mask’s performative dimension.
These masks were worn by men, whilst embodying values of beauty, restraint, fertility, balance and mediation with the ancestors.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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