Skip to main content
Items Similar to Senoufo Ivory Coast Kpelié Initiation Dance Mask, Early 20th Century
Mblo Gba Gba Dance Mask, Baoulé People, Ivory Coast, Mid 20th Century
Mblo Gba Gba Dance Mask, Baoulé People, Ivory Coast, Mid 20th Century
African mask Yaure tribe Ivory Coast Circa 1950
African mask Yaure tribe Ivory Coast Circa 1950
Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950
Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950
African Liberia/Ivory Coast Late 20th Century Carved Wood Grebo Face Mask
African Liberia/Ivory Coast Late 20th Century Carved Wood Grebo Face Mask
Songye Female Large Wood Kifwebe Mask with White, Black, Provenance, DRC Africa
Songye Female Large Wood Kifwebe Mask with White, Black, Provenance, DRC Africa
Early Danced Black Wood Mask From the Guro Peoples Ivory Coast Bird on top
Early Danced Black Wood Mask From the Guro Peoples Ivory Coast Bird on top
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 7

Senoufo Ivory Coast Kpelié Initiation Dance Mask, Early 20th Century

$900
£679.92
€779.72
CA$1,255.78
A$1,366.67
CHF 724.47
MX$16,442.11
NOK 9,188.63
SEK 8,406.95
DKK 5,825.08

About the Item

A strikingly darkly patinated and geometrically inscribed ritual mask made by the Senoufo people of the Ivory Coast. This delicately carved mask, with its characteristic arched eyebrows, oval head, and narrow eyes, represents a beauteous female spirit, with desirable dark skin, facial scarification to the sides of the mouth, and, at the edges of the mask, the elaborate rounded and rectangular hairstyles worn by women in Senoufo society. However, a mask of this sort, known as a ‘Kpelié’ mask, would only be worn by men, who, as part of the male secret society of initiation called ‘Poro’, are guided by an ancestral female spirit, ‘The Ancient Mother’. The two lengthened appendages at the side of the chin connect the spirit to the earth, and the charming rounded Hornbill bird, one of the first on earth in Senoufo cosmology, is significantly perched at the top of the head. The Hornbill is also closely linked to smiths in Senoufo society, and its presence here on a Kpelié mask would indicate the transmission of this area of knowledge in the instructive rituals in which it would be used. A beautiful and sophisticated ritual piece. Dimensions: Height: 17.72 in (45 cm) Width: 8.47 in (21.5 cm) Depth: 6.7 in (17 cm)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)Width: 8.55 in (21.7 cm)Depth: 6.7 in (17 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Hardwood
  • Period:
    Early 20th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1920s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
  • Seller Location:
    CA, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2102346799312

More From This Seller

View All
Mblo Gba Gba Dance Mask, Baoulé People, Ivory Coast, Mid 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
Finely carved with detailed naturalistic features and adornments, this black lacquered and patinated wooden dance mask was made by the Baoulé people of the Ivory Coast during the mid...
Category

Mid-20th Century African Tribal Art

Materials

Hardwood

Mblo Gba Gba Dance Mask, Baoulé People, Ivory Coast, Mid 20th Century

Mblo Gba Gba Dance Mask, Baoulé People, Ivory Coast, Mid 20th Century

$660
Ivory Coast Zoomorphic Dance Mask, Gouro People, 1950s
Located in CA, CA
A beautifully painted, stylised ritual dance mask with an assertive presence, used by the Gouro people of the Ivory Coast. The mask is in the form of an African wild dog, which, in t...
Category

Mid-20th Century African Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Hardwood

Ivory Coast Zoomorphic Dance Mask, Gouro People, 1950s

Ivory Coast Zoomorphic Dance Mask, Gouro People, 1950s

$1,500
Ngbaka Congolese Tribal Mask for Initiation Rituals, Early 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
With a beautiful dark patina, this early 20th century wooden mask shows a naturalistic human face, flattened, with the forehead, open mouth and stylised teeth in light relief; the ri...
Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Ngbaka Congolese Tribal Mask for Initiation Rituals, Early 20th Century

Ngbaka Congolese Tribal Mask for Initiation Rituals, Early 20th Century

$4,200
Burkina Faso Zoomorphic Horse Dance Mask Late 19th Century
Located in CA, CA
A stunning Zoomorphic Dance mask The masks serve to invoke spirit animals, ancestors, or protective deities, bringing their spiritual qualities into the human world. Used in ceremonies to honour ancestors, promote fertility and ensure the well being of the community. Among the many animal-form masks in Burkina Faso, the horse mask...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century African Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Hardwood

Burkina Faso Zoomorphic Horse Dance Mask Late 19th Century

Burkina Faso Zoomorphic Horse Dance Mask Late 19th Century

$2,400
Koulango Female Ancestral Statue, Ivory Coast, Early 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
The hard wood of this female Koulango statue, from the Ivory Coast in the early 20th century, has developed a beautiful black patina. With hands resting on the abdomen, and the neck ...
Category

Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Koulango Female Ancestral Statue, Ivory Coast, Early 20th Century

Koulango Female Ancestral Statue, Ivory Coast, Early 20th Century

$2,400
Senoufo Female Statue "Deblé" Côte d Ivoire Early 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
SENOUFO, Ivory Coast. "Deblé” Carved and scarified wood, black patina. Standing female statue, hands on hips. Early 20th century Dimensions: 35cm high, 7.5 cm depth, 9cm width
Category

Early 20th Century African Tribal Art

Materials

Hardwood

Senoufo Female Statue "Deblé" Côte d Ivoire Early 20th Century

Senoufo Female Statue "Deblé" Côte d Ivoire Early 20th Century

$540

You May Also Like

African mask Yaure tribe Ivory Coast Circa 1950
Located in Paris, FR
African mask from Yaure tribe in Ivory Coast Circa 1950. Beautiful dark patina. Swedish private collection, from the 1980s then inherited within the family. Yaure tribe art is renow...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African mask Yaure tribe Ivory Coast Circa 1950

African mask Yaure tribe Ivory Coast Circa 1950

$2,041
Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950
Located in Paris, FR
The Senoufo people inhabit areas spanning southern Mali, southern Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. They are organized around the poro, a male initiation system where young boys learn their social and religious roles in sacred woods, away from the village. Initiation ceremonies can last up to twenty-one years, and ritual objects are carved by specialized artisans. The Kpélié mask...
Category

Vintage 1950s Ivorian Folk Art Masks

Materials

Wood

Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950

Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast, 1950

$1,681
African Liberia/Ivory Coast Late 20th Century Carved Wood Grebo Face Mask
Located in Queens, NY
African Late 20th Century (1990s) painted Grebo face mask (embodying spirits residing in the forest) carved in oval form with tubular eyes, flattened nose and mouth, 2 side holes plu...
Category

20th Century African Tribal Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Paint

African Liberia/Ivory Coast Late 20th Century Carved Wood Grebo Face Mask

African Liberia/Ivory Coast Late 20th Century Carved Wood Grebo Face Mask

$1,400
Songye Female Large Wood Kifwebe Mask with White, Black, Provenance, DRC Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Carved wood large female Songye Kifwebe mask with classic white lines, blackened ridge down crest of forehead, nose and mouth. Worn holes around back edge of mask from attachment of...
Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Songye Female Large Wood Kifwebe Mask with White, Black, Provenance, DRC Africa

Songye Female Large Wood Kifwebe Mask with White, Black, Provenance, DRC Africa

$3,950
Early Danced Black Wood Mask From the Guro Peoples Ivory Coast Bird on top
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Danced Black Wood Mask From the Guro Peoples Ivory Coast Bird on top. Finely carved mask with carved open eyes, and pointed nose and slightly smiling mouth. It is in good co...
Category

Early 20th Century Gabonese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Early Danced Black Wood Mask From the Guro Peoples Ivory Coast Bird on top

Early Danced Black Wood Mask From the Guro Peoples Ivory Coast Bird on top

$3,500
Africain Wooden Ligbi Mask Protruding Plate on the Head, Ivory Coast 1980s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Ligbi mask, with a protruding plate on the head engraved with decorative motifs. Highlights of blue pigments and kaolin enhance this small mask, satin black patina. The appearance is...
Category

Vintage 1980s Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Africain Wooden Ligbi Mask Protruding Plate on the Head, Ivory Coast 1980s

Africain Wooden Ligbi Mask Protruding Plate on the Head, Ivory Coast 1980s

$2,041