Guéré ceremonial mask - Côte d'Ivoire
01
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Current bid
€ 66
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 350 - € 400
 | €66 | |
|---|---|---|
| €2 | |
 | €1 |
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Anthropomorphic mask from the Guéré culture of Côte d'Ivoire, dating to the mid-20th century, originally authentic, with an articulated lower jaw and composed of wood, textiles, hair, nails and metal, measuring 260 × 170 × 105 mm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Guéré
Wood, fabrics, hair, nail, metal
Height: 260mm
Width: 170mm
Depth: 105mm
1 - Origin and Cultural Context
This 26 cm anthropomorphic mask originates from the west of the Ivory Coast, within the great cultural complex of the Guéré (Wè) people. This region, marked by dense forests, developed a ritual aesthetic focused on dramatic expressiveness, relief, and the accumulation of heterogeneous textures. The piece moves away from the smooth, idealized depictions of other Ivorian ethnic groups to favor a striking, textured theatricality.
2 - Use and Ritual Function
The use of this mask is primarily linked to entertainment, social satire, and village mediation. Within Guéré communities, this type of anthropomorphic figure does not embody the absolute severity of the great exorcism or war masks. It participates vividly during post-harvest feasts, secular celebrations, or intermediate funeral ceremonies. The wearer uses the mask to mime, theatrically tell moralizing stories, and point, under the cover of anonymity, to the community’s faults.
3 - Technical Particularity: The Articulated Jaw
The major and most relevant morphological element of this piece lies in its lower jaw, which is articulated. Carved independently of the rest of the face and connected by flexible cords, it animates with even the slightest turn of the dancer’s head. This moving mouth, combined with inserts of light wood or bone representing individualized teeth, creates the illusion of speech and chewing, thereby enhancing the living and captivating aspect of the ritual performance.
4 - Polychromy and Composite Materials
Surface analysis reveals a typically composite design, characteristic of Guéré art. The forehead and eye area retain traces of a white kaolin engobe, while the nose and cheeks bear a crusty patina loaded with ochre, red, and green pigments. The mask also preserves its precious textile attributes: a thick black fabric band stuffed and crowning the top of the head, and a prosthetic beard made of plant fibers or dark braided hairs that envelops the moving jaw.
5 - Internal Examination and Usage Patina
Examining the reverse side provides valuable technical information about the object’s history. The inner face shows a deep, regular hollow that perfectly conforms to the initiates’ facial anatomy. The wood displays a brown, smooth patina from repeated contact with skin and sweat during dances. Lateral perforations are clearly visible around the entire edge, as well as a clean transverse cut that frees the jaw mechanism.
The objects are shipped with insurance and a tracking number.
Parcels are sent from Monday to Saturday. Delivery in France in 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, and between 2 and 5 days across Europe. Worldwide delivery with Colissimo International.
We speak English.
Mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art African mask art
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
Guéré
Wood, fabrics, hair, nail, metal
Height: 260mm
Width: 170mm
Depth: 105mm
1 - Origin and Cultural Context
This 26 cm anthropomorphic mask originates from the west of the Ivory Coast, within the great cultural complex of the Guéré (Wè) people. This region, marked by dense forests, developed a ritual aesthetic focused on dramatic expressiveness, relief, and the accumulation of heterogeneous textures. The piece moves away from the smooth, idealized depictions of other Ivorian ethnic groups to favor a striking, textured theatricality.
2 - Use and Ritual Function
The use of this mask is primarily linked to entertainment, social satire, and village mediation. Within Guéré communities, this type of anthropomorphic figure does not embody the absolute severity of the great exorcism or war masks. It participates vividly during post-harvest feasts, secular celebrations, or intermediate funeral ceremonies. The wearer uses the mask to mime, theatrically tell moralizing stories, and point, under the cover of anonymity, to the community’s faults.
3 - Technical Particularity: The Articulated Jaw
The major and most relevant morphological element of this piece lies in its lower jaw, which is articulated. Carved independently of the rest of the face and connected by flexible cords, it animates with even the slightest turn of the dancer’s head. This moving mouth, combined with inserts of light wood or bone representing individualized teeth, creates the illusion of speech and chewing, thereby enhancing the living and captivating aspect of the ritual performance.
4 - Polychromy and Composite Materials
Surface analysis reveals a typically composite design, characteristic of Guéré art. The forehead and eye area retain traces of a white kaolin engobe, while the nose and cheeks bear a crusty patina loaded with ochre, red, and green pigments. The mask also preserves its precious textile attributes: a thick black fabric band stuffed and crowning the top of the head, and a prosthetic beard made of plant fibers or dark braided hairs that envelops the moving jaw.
5 - Internal Examination and Usage Patina
Examining the reverse side provides valuable technical information about the object’s history. The inner face shows a deep, regular hollow that perfectly conforms to the initiates’ facial anatomy. The wood displays a brown, smooth patina from repeated contact with skin and sweat during dances. Lateral perforations are clearly visible around the entire edge, as well as a clean transverse cut that frees the jaw mechanism.
The objects are shipped with insurance and a tracking number.
Parcels are sent from Monday to Saturday. Delivery in France in 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, and between 2 and 5 days across Europe. Worldwide delivery with Colissimo International.
We speak English.
Mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art African mask art
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
Ethnic group/ culture
Guéré ceremonial mask
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Period
Mid 20th century
Material
Wood / fur / fabrics / metal
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
