Browse Items (91 total)

This mask is an oval female face with an elaborate coiffure and free-form braids. There are holes around the rim for attaching. It is made out of carved wood with a rich dark brown vegetable pigment patina.

Diviners (highly respected fortune tellers) use a mouse and a divination pot called a "gbekre" to predict future events.

Fly whisk features two elephants with their trunks entwined around a tree. The center shaft is missing the blue indigenous fabric for shooing away flies. It is made of carved wood with brown patina and 24K red gold leaf.

This crocodile-shaped game board has recessed cups in its back for game use and holding the playing pieces. This mathematical game is played with cowrie shells or pebbles, and is similar to chess. The game board is carved out of wood with and dark…

Goli masquerades are rich with social commentary pertaining to knowledge, gender, aesthetics, and the hierarchies surrounding village life. Communication comes forth through the medium of entertainment with elaborate costuming. Performance takes…

Baule people are prolific carvers. A statue is usually on a base with legs bent slightly, and hands at rest on the abdomen to communicate a feeling of peacefulness. The coiffure is generally detailed. The statue represents the spirit of the bush and…

Lulua carvers are known for graceful figure depicting recognized ancestors. A characteristic style is intricate scarification and an elaborate coiffure. Bulging eyes symbolize the ability to detect harm. Often, a figure is rubbed with a mixture of…

Carved wood male face mask in a dark brown patina with white kaolin highlights. The small carved beard has a woven rope and raffia beard attached to it and fabric behind it.

Carved wood with dark brown and black vegetable pigments with white kaolin in the form of duck’s head, rounded out and recessed at back for face when danced. 20th century.

At the bottom of this large carved wood mask is a round face with a handle for holding it in front of the wearer. The mask of wood, with brown and black vegetable pigment, brown indigo, and white kaolin.