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Bassa mask
Côte d'Ivoire
Geh-naw mask
Carved wood and pigments
Late 19th or early 20th century
Height: 8 ¼ in. – 21 cm
Ex collection Helmut Zake, Heidelberg
Published : Masks of the We & Neighbors, Adrian Schlag, 2022
Published: Parcours des Mondes 2022
Sold
This mask known as "geh-naw" was used by the chu-den-zo initiation society of the Bassa people in the coastal area of Liberia.
These masks appeared at the end of the initiation cycle of young men. They were also used to welcoming dignitaries or for entertainment purposes.
Bassa dancers wore these masks on their foreheads. The dancer looked through a slit in the cloth covering his head and chest.
These masks are stylistically reminiscent of those of the Dan, with pointed chins and straight noses.
See "L'autre visage, Masques Africains de la collection Barbier-Mueller", Ed. Adam Biro, 1997 for additional references.
These masks appeared at the end of the initiation cycle of young men. They were also used to welcoming dignitaries or for entertainment purposes.
Bassa dancers wore these masks on their foreheads. The dancer looked through a slit in the cloth covering his head and chest.
These masks are stylistically reminiscent of those of the Dan, with pointed chins and straight noses.
See "L'autre visage, Masques Africains de la collection Barbier-Mueller", Ed. Adam Biro, 1997 for additional references.
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