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BLANCHET & Associés
236
-
Kwélé zoomorphic mask, Gabon, wood, pigment, H.
See original version (French)
236
-
Kwélé zoomorphic mask, Gabon, wood, pigment, H.
See original version (French)
Estimate €600 - €800
Voluntary lot
Description
Kwélé zoomorphic mask, Gabon, wood, pigment, H.67cmxW.22cm.Kwélé masks in the form of silhouettes represent the inhabitants of the equatorial forest and are used during the beete ritual. This ritual is used to ease social tensions and strengthen community solidarity in the face of difficulties such as epidemics, lack of game or the death of a chief. The mask shown here represents an antelope known as a duiker, a very important animal in this ritual. The young men set off to hunt the duiker in groups in the forest, reinforcing their spirit of cohesion. A successful hunt is seen as a favourable sign from the forest spirits. The meat of the duiker is then used in a ritual stew shared by the whole community at the ceremony.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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