Dance mask - Liberia - Powerful Grebo Mask
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 850 - € 950
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Powerful Grebo Mask from Liberia, attributed to the Grebo people; carved wood, 40 cm high, dating to ca. 1930–1950, in good condition with signs of aging, provenance: Old Dutch collection (acquired in the 1980s).
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Description from the seller
Powerful Grebo Mask, Liberia / Ivory Coast
Wood, encrusted patina
Height: 40 cm
Provenance: Old Dutch collection, acquired in the 1980s
This powerful mask is a classic creation of the Grebo people of southeastern Liberia, celebrated for their bold and abstract sculptural style that profoundly inspired European modernist artists such as Picasso and Braque.
Carved with two prominent tubular eyes, a forceful triangular nose, and a rectangular mouth inset with zigzag teeth, the mask projects an intense, almost confrontational presence. The tubular eyes, likened to “cannons,” symbolize supernatural sight and vigilance, while the jagged mouth embodies both speech and mystical energy. The heavy brow adds to its helmet-like, martial quality.
Used by Grebo warrior societies, masks of this type were intended to intimidate adversaries and repel harmful spirits, asserting both social and spiritual power. The perforations around the rim once supported raffia or fiber attachments that enhanced the mask’s dramatic impact during performance.
The surface bears a deep, encrusted patina with rich traces of age and use, while the interior shows smooth wear from handling and long ritual service. These qualities point to an early 20th-century origin (ca. 1900–1930).
Grebo masks of this quality and authenticity are increasingly rare and highly sought after by serious collectors and institutions.
Comparable Examples: Musée Barbier-Mueller, Geneva; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Seller's Story
Becker Antiques (Established 1966)
Founded in 1966 by Jan Simon Becker, Becker Antiques is one of the most respected and established dealers in Asian art in the Netherlands. Our gallery is housed in a stunning five-storey mansion built in 1891, located in Amsterdam’s prestigious Museum Quarter (Oud-Zuid), just minutes from the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the renowned Royal Concert Hall, “Koninklijk Concertgebouw.”
For nearly 60 years, we have specialized in high-quality and fully authentic works of art from China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and other classical cultures. Our main areas of expertise include:
Han–Ming dynasty pottery and tomb figures
Chinese bronzes, Buddhist sculptures, and ritual objects
Stone and wooden sculptures from Asia
Japanese and Southeast Asian artworks
Qing dynasty furniture and scholar’s items
Every object we offer is carefully selected for authenticity, originality, and historical importance. All items are guaranteed to be as described, supported by decades of specialist knowledge and connoisseurship.
Becker Antiques is trusted by museums, private collectors, and dealers worldwide. We take pride in offering not only genuine works of art, but also the integrity, expertise, and transparency that have defined our gallery for almost six decades.
For any questions, we are always happy to assist.
Legal Notice – Intellectual Property & Authenticity
All descriptions, texts, and seller information provided under the Becker Antiques profile on Catawiki constitute original intellectual property.
No part of these descriptions or seller statements may be copied, reproduced, or adapted—whether in whole or in part—without prior written permission from Becker Antiques.
Becker Antiques is the sole author and copyright holder of all seller texts used in our listings. Unauthorized use or imitation of our content, structure, or professional statements may constitute infringement under EU copyright law and may be reported to Catawiki as a violation of seller terms and misleading commercial practice.
All objects offered by Becker Antiques are guaranteed to be authentic and as described. We do not sell assembled, altered, or modern reproductions unless explicitly stated.
Powerful Grebo Mask, Liberia / Ivory Coast
Wood, encrusted patina
Height: 40 cm
Provenance: Old Dutch collection, acquired in the 1980s
This powerful mask is a classic creation of the Grebo people of southeastern Liberia, celebrated for their bold and abstract sculptural style that profoundly inspired European modernist artists such as Picasso and Braque.
Carved with two prominent tubular eyes, a forceful triangular nose, and a rectangular mouth inset with zigzag teeth, the mask projects an intense, almost confrontational presence. The tubular eyes, likened to “cannons,” symbolize supernatural sight and vigilance, while the jagged mouth embodies both speech and mystical energy. The heavy brow adds to its helmet-like, martial quality.
Used by Grebo warrior societies, masks of this type were intended to intimidate adversaries and repel harmful spirits, asserting both social and spiritual power. The perforations around the rim once supported raffia or fiber attachments that enhanced the mask’s dramatic impact during performance.
The surface bears a deep, encrusted patina with rich traces of age and use, while the interior shows smooth wear from handling and long ritual service. These qualities point to an early 20th-century origin (ca. 1900–1930).
Grebo masks of this quality and authenticity are increasingly rare and highly sought after by serious collectors and institutions.
Comparable Examples: Musée Barbier-Mueller, Geneva; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Seller's Story
Becker Antiques (Established 1966)
Founded in 1966 by Jan Simon Becker, Becker Antiques is one of the most respected and established dealers in Asian art in the Netherlands. Our gallery is housed in a stunning five-storey mansion built in 1891, located in Amsterdam’s prestigious Museum Quarter (Oud-Zuid), just minutes from the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the renowned Royal Concert Hall, “Koninklijk Concertgebouw.”
For nearly 60 years, we have specialized in high-quality and fully authentic works of art from China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and other classical cultures. Our main areas of expertise include:
Han–Ming dynasty pottery and tomb figures
Chinese bronzes, Buddhist sculptures, and ritual objects
Stone and wooden sculptures from Asia
Japanese and Southeast Asian artworks
Qing dynasty furniture and scholar’s items
Every object we offer is carefully selected for authenticity, originality, and historical importance. All items are guaranteed to be as described, supported by decades of specialist knowledge and connoisseurship.
Becker Antiques is trusted by museums, private collectors, and dealers worldwide. We take pride in offering not only genuine works of art, but also the integrity, expertise, and transparency that have defined our gallery for almost six decades.
For any questions, we are always happy to assist.
Legal Notice – Intellectual Property & Authenticity
All descriptions, texts, and seller information provided under the Becker Antiques profile on Catawiki constitute original intellectual property.
No part of these descriptions or seller statements may be copied, reproduced, or adapted—whether in whole or in part—without prior written permission from Becker Antiques.
Becker Antiques is the sole author and copyright holder of all seller texts used in our listings. Unauthorized use or imitation of our content, structure, or professional statements may constitute infringement under EU copyright law and may be reported to Catawiki as a violation of seller terms and misleading commercial practice.
All objects offered by Becker Antiques are guaranteed to be authentic and as described. We do not sell assembled, altered, or modern reproductions unless explicitly stated.
Details
Era
After 2000
Material
Wood
Country of Origin
Liberia
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Height
40 cm
Sold with stand
No
Estimated Period
ca. 1930-1950
Title additional information
Powerful Grebo Mask
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