A Guro Mask, Gohitafla region, Ivory Coast. Incl. stand. This anthropomorphic mask, carved from wood by the Guro people, is distinguished by its use of bright colors characteristic of Ripolin painting, or modern polychrome painting. Its face has an elongated oval shape, entirely covered in a bright, glossy red pigment; its almond-shaped eyes, painted white with black pupils in the center, are surmounted by two thick, arched black eyebrows. With a toothy smile; the mouth, painted red, is wide open, revealing a row of small, white, pointed, rectangular teeth carved in relief. Small ritual incisions—both horizontal and oblique—discreetly crisscross the outer corners of the mouth and the temples. The top of the head features a black hairstyle finely streaked with closely spaced vertical lines to represent braided hair. This hairstyle rises to the top in a tall cylindrical bun tied at its base by transverse incisions imitating a ribbon or cord. Two small, stylized ears stand out on either side of the red face. The lower part of the mask (the chin and the area below the ears) is left in light, weathered wood or beige with carving marks. “In Guro culture, distinctions are made between masquerades that are the focus of cults and those that are more secular in nature. A sequence of three sacred masks centers around Zamble, a mythical male being whose form fuses antelope and leopard features. He is in turn complemented by his beautiful wife, Gu, and his wild, grotesque brother, Zuali. Such representations are owned by certain families that use them as the loci of sacrificial offerings proposed by diviners to improve their well-being. In contrast, other Guro mask forms, which serve only as sources of entertainment, are designed by individual performers.” Bibliographical reference: The MET "In the context of African art, masks are not merely crafted objects—they are living vessels of the spirit, transcending their material existence to become agents of social and spiritual transformation. The Guro mask, with its blending of human and animal features, symbolizes the delicate balance between the earthly and the divine. These masks serve as a conduit for ancestral wisdom, channeling power from the spirit world to influence the wellbeing and unity of the community." Source: Vogel, Susan. African Art, Western Eyes. Yale University Press, 1997. "Masks such as those of the Guro are fundamentally about transformational agency—their ability to shape and reshape the social fabric by bringing the ancestral world into the present. The act of wearing the mask is not one of mere representation but rather a process of becoming. The dancer does not simply wear the mask; they embody it, channeling its spiritual essence and allowing the sacred to manifest in the here and now." Source: Thompson, Robert Farris. Flash of the Spirit: African and Afro-American Art and Philosophy. Vintage Books, 1984. Some of the information is generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history. Informant Bakari M*A*Z*1*5*7*2*7* The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits.