Warrior Mask / Power Mask - Grebo - Côte d'Ivoire
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 280 - € 330
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Masque de guerrier / de puissance, Grebo wooden mask from Côte d’Ivoire, 365 × 160 × 120 mm, in good condition.
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Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Grebo
Wood
Height: 365mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 120mm
This magnificent wooden mask standing 36.5 cm tall is an emblematic piece of the Grebo (or Kru) ethnicity, a people living in the border region of southwestern Ivory Coast and Liberia.
This cubist, abstract art style deeply influenced Western artists in the early 20th century. It is precisely a very similar Grebo mask, acquired by Pablo Picasso in 1912, that inspired his famous sheet-metal sculpture “Guitar,” revolutionizing cubism through the concept of protruding cylindrical eyes.
Here is the detailed analysis of its origin, structure, and ritual uses.
1. Stylistic Characteristics and Aesthetics
Grebo art markedly distances itself from realism, favoring a rigorous geometric construction and a striking economy of means.
The Flatness of the Face: The front is organized around a large oval, elongated flat panel.
Tubular Eyes: This is the most striking feature of the Grebo style. The eyes are represented by two strong cylinders projecting forward, with circular ends painted white with kaolin. This projection gives the mask a fixed, hypnotic, and menacing gaze.
The Nose and the Mouth: A long, straight, angular nose in the shape of an inverted arrow separates the two eyes. It leads to a rectangular, raised mouth, carved with geometric chevron patterns or cross-incisions evoking threatening teeth.
The Hair or Upper Headdress: The top of the mask is crowned by a large spatula-like or inverted fan-shaped protrusion, tinted with a dark patina, extending the piece’s verticality.
Traditional Polychromy: The front face uses the three major ritual colors of this West African region: a yellow/ochre forehead, a wide brick-red central band framing the eyes (pierced with small vision holes for the dancer), and a kaolin-white chin showing natural erosion traces.
The Back and the Attachment: The reverse reveals a deeply hollowed inner face, tinted dark brown, as well as circular perforations along the lower edge intended for sewing a costume made of plant fibers or fabric.
2. Functional Use and Ritual Significance
Among the Grebo, society is traditionally organized into age classes and warrior societies. The masks do not represent human ancestors but spirits of the forest (spirit beings) that are invisible and ambivalent.
A. The Spirit of War and Justice
These masks, with a fierce, geometric appearance, were mainly worn by initiates during war-related ceremonies. They served to galvanize fighters, frighten enemies, or welcome warriors back from battle.
They also intervened during councils and important judgments. The appearance of the mask could reinforce the authority of the elders, enforce customary laws, and render indisputable justice under the protection of the spirits.
B. Festive Celebrations and Agricultural Rites
Outside periods of conflict, the mask could be worn for grand collective entertainment, during the enthronement of a chief, or during agricultural rites to solicit the fertility of the lands and the protection of the harvests.
During ritual outings, the dancer was entirely concealed beneath a heavy costume of fibers. His movements were jerky and unpredictable, mimicking the wild power of nature and the all-seeing spirit, symbolized by the tubular eyes capable of “seeing beyond” the visible world.
In summary
This 36.5 cm Grebo mask is a superb testament to African plastic ingenuity. By combining warrior strength with geometric abstraction, it remains a key piece for understanding the evolution of Côte d’Ivoire’s maritime rituals and its major historical impact on Western modern art.
Packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue African art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateIvory Coast
Grebo
Wood
Height: 365mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 120mm
This magnificent wooden mask standing 36.5 cm tall is an emblematic piece of the Grebo (or Kru) ethnicity, a people living in the border region of southwestern Ivory Coast and Liberia.
This cubist, abstract art style deeply influenced Western artists in the early 20th century. It is precisely a very similar Grebo mask, acquired by Pablo Picasso in 1912, that inspired his famous sheet-metal sculpture “Guitar,” revolutionizing cubism through the concept of protruding cylindrical eyes.
Here is the detailed analysis of its origin, structure, and ritual uses.
1. Stylistic Characteristics and Aesthetics
Grebo art markedly distances itself from realism, favoring a rigorous geometric construction and a striking economy of means.
The Flatness of the Face: The front is organized around a large oval, elongated flat panel.
Tubular Eyes: This is the most striking feature of the Grebo style. The eyes are represented by two strong cylinders projecting forward, with circular ends painted white with kaolin. This projection gives the mask a fixed, hypnotic, and menacing gaze.
The Nose and the Mouth: A long, straight, angular nose in the shape of an inverted arrow separates the two eyes. It leads to a rectangular, raised mouth, carved with geometric chevron patterns or cross-incisions evoking threatening teeth.
The Hair or Upper Headdress: The top of the mask is crowned by a large spatula-like or inverted fan-shaped protrusion, tinted with a dark patina, extending the piece’s verticality.
Traditional Polychromy: The front face uses the three major ritual colors of this West African region: a yellow/ochre forehead, a wide brick-red central band framing the eyes (pierced with small vision holes for the dancer), and a kaolin-white chin showing natural erosion traces.
The Back and the Attachment: The reverse reveals a deeply hollowed inner face, tinted dark brown, as well as circular perforations along the lower edge intended for sewing a costume made of plant fibers or fabric.
2. Functional Use and Ritual Significance
Among the Grebo, society is traditionally organized into age classes and warrior societies. The masks do not represent human ancestors but spirits of the forest (spirit beings) that are invisible and ambivalent.
A. The Spirit of War and Justice
These masks, with a fierce, geometric appearance, were mainly worn by initiates during war-related ceremonies. They served to galvanize fighters, frighten enemies, or welcome warriors back from battle.
They also intervened during councils and important judgments. The appearance of the mask could reinforce the authority of the elders, enforce customary laws, and render indisputable justice under the protection of the spirits.
B. Festive Celebrations and Agricultural Rites
Outside periods of conflict, the mask could be worn for grand collective entertainment, during the enthronement of a chief, or during agricultural rites to solicit the fertility of the lands and the protection of the harvests.
During ritual outings, the dancer was entirely concealed beneath a heavy costume of fibers. His movements were jerky and unpredictable, mimicking the wild power of nature and the all-seeing spirit, symbolized by the tubular eyes capable of “seeing beyond” the visible world.
In summary
This 36.5 cm Grebo mask is a superb testament to African plastic ingenuity. By combining warrior strength with geometric abstraction, it remains a key piece for understanding the evolution of Côte d’Ivoire’s maritime rituals and its major historical impact on Western modern art.
Packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue African art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Warrior Mask / Power Mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Grebo
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
