West Africa
03
days
10
hours
05
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16
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€ 1
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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African wooden mask, hand-carved from West Africa, mid-20th century, approximately 25 cm high, 17 cm wide and 11 cm deep, in fair condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Title: African Wooden Mask – Figurative Mask
Period: 20th century
Origin: West Africa
Material: Hand-carved wood
Dimensions: approx. life-size (exact measurements not provided)
Condition: Authentic used condition. Surface wear, abrasions, insect holes, old losses, and erosion consistent with age and use. Traces of old attachments visible on the interior and edges. No modern restoration observed.
Description:
This carved wooden mask originates from West Africa and represents a stylized human face with pronounced facial features, including heavy-lidded eyes, prominent nose, and exposed teeth. The surface displays a darkened patina with areas of lighter wear, consistent with handling and age.
The reverse shows a hollowed interior with multiple perforations along the edges, indicating the former attachment of fiber, fabric, or other organic materials, now lost. These features are typical of masks intended for ceremonial or performative use.
The carving is direct and expressive, with visible tool marks and natural irregularities. Surface wear, insect activity, and small losses should be regarded as honest signs of age rather than damage.
This mask was created for traditional or symbolic purposes, rather than decorative export, and remains a strong example of 20th-century African mask carving suitable for collectors of ethnographic and tribal art.
Above is the description made by Chatgpt.
Title: African Wooden Mask – Figurative Mask
Period: 20th century
Origin: West Africa
Material: Hand-carved wood
Dimensions: approx. life-size (exact measurements not provided)
Condition: Authentic used condition. Surface wear, abrasions, insect holes, old losses, and erosion consistent with age and use. Traces of old attachments visible on the interior and edges. No modern restoration observed.
Description:
This carved wooden mask originates from West Africa and represents a stylized human face with pronounced facial features, including heavy-lidded eyes, prominent nose, and exposed teeth. The surface displays a darkened patina with areas of lighter wear, consistent with handling and age.
The reverse shows a hollowed interior with multiple perforations along the edges, indicating the former attachment of fiber, fabric, or other organic materials, now lost. These features are typical of masks intended for ceremonial or performative use.
The carving is direct and expressive, with visible tool marks and natural irregularities. Surface wear, insect activity, and small losses should be regarded as honest signs of age rather than damage.
This mask was created for traditional or symbolic purposes, rather than decorative export, and remains a strong example of 20th-century African mask carving suitable for collectors of ethnographic and tribal art.
Above is the description made by Chatgpt.
Details
No. of items
1
Country of Origin
West Africa
Period
Mid 20th century
Material
Wood
Condition
Fair condition
Height
25 cm
Width
17 cm
Depth
11 cm
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