Items Similar to Guere Mask from Cote d'Ivoire Africa with Sotheby's Sticker
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 18
Guere Mask from Cote d'Ivoire Africa with Sotheby's Sticker
$4,000
£3,023.50
€3,474.54
CA$5,569.98
A$6,196.37
CHF 3,248.21
MX$75,718.12
NOK 41,361.96
SEK 38,936.56
DKK 25,936.15
Shipping
Retrieving quote...The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation
About the Item
A Guere wood mask with paint and fiber remnant from We people displayed on a metal stand. The We people (also known as the Krahn or Guere) are an indigenous African people that inhabit areas in nowadays eastern Liberia and western Côte d'Ivoire. Their material culture shares many aspects with the neighboring Dan tribe. Like the Dans, the We use a wide variety of masquerades, which hold important regulatory position within their small, egalitarian communities. Masks are owned by families and used by individual lineage members in contexts of social control, ritual ceremony and entertainment. This type of Guere mask, however, has a distinct fearsome character. The ferocious design with jagged facial expression, bulging tubular eyes are intended for use in mediations between community members, as visual aids during moral lessons, as well as forms of entertainment. By portraying the more frightening nature of the animal, the mask is viewed as powerful and may have been used as part of social control methods prior to the introduction of Western law systems during the colonial period.
The mask on offer, based on our examination, appears to be an original one that was used natively instead of reproduction made for the tourist market. The surface presents apparently genuine patina consistent with use. The red paint that highlights the eyes and gapping mouth also appear original. There are small losses flanking the nose ridge by the eyes, extensive surface accretion, remain of some fiber tassels. The back of the mask reveals chisel marks from hand tools and importantly, stain marks that were likely from repetitive contacts from the nose of the wearer.
The mask is 9" in height, and it retains an old Sotheby’s catalog number #58 on the base. We couldn't substantiate this label as there isn't a sale no, date or year on the label.
- Dimensions:Height: 15 in (38.1 cm)Width: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
- Style:Tribal (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:20th century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Wear and patina overall, small losses and crack lines and dings, surface substance accretion. Chisel marks from hand tools and stain mask from apparently use. Residual fiber on one side. Sotheby's sticker under the base.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU945041227582
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2006
1stDibs seller since 2010
564 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Atlanta, GA
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllHelmet Crest Ngoin Mask from Cameroon Africa
Located in Atlanta, GA
This Helmet Crest mask is categorized as a “Babanki” style Ngoin mask from Northwestern provinces of Cameroon circa first half of 20th century. In part of highland area called “Camer...
Category
20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Lega Bwami Society Mask on Display Stand with Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
On offer is a Lega Bwami society wooden mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was likely from the first half of the 20th century and an authentic in-field piece. The mask di...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
African Kuba Helmet Mask on Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Helmet Mask known as Bwoon from the Kuba Tribe in the Kasai region of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa circa mid-20th century. The carved wood mask was decorated with copper plates on the face, and lavished embellished with trade beads, raffia cloth with cowrie shells and hanging seed pods, fur possibly from monkey. The surface and the interior both display good patina indicates a native use (contact rubbing) and age.
Bwoom is one of three types of royal Kuba masks...
Category
20th Century Congolese Tribal Masks
Materials
Copper
African Nigeria Epa Helmit Mask with Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Epa helmet mask, Nigeria, Africa.
Fully carved mother and child; painted red and black with touches of white;
Provenance: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis; The Eiteljorg Mu...
Category
Vintage 1950s Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Tall African Ibibio Head Mask with Polychrome Nigeria Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall Ibibio wood mask from Nigeria, Africa, circa 20th century. The head mask was carved in with a frontal face with pierced eyes and a gapping mouth. On his head, a stylized hat ...
Category
20th Century Nigerian Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Rattan, Wood
Japanese Wood Bugaku Mask of Korobase Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking Japanese carved wood mask with polychrome paint and lacquer surface. This rare mask is dated to the Edo period (first half of 19th century and possibly earlier). The mask ...
Category
Antique 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
You May Also Like
Salampasu Mask – DR Congo – Mid 20th Century – African Tribal Art
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Discover the soul of Africa through this authentic Salampasu mask from DR Congo, handcrafted in the mid-20th century. Part of a carefully curated collec...
Category
Vintage 1950s Congolese Tribal Masks
Materials
Hardwood
1950's Lega 'Idimu' Mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century finely carved mask, from the Lega culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, displays the typically heart-shaped face of Lega 'Idimu' masks. Traces o...
Category
Vintage 1950s Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Raffia, Hardwood
Ngbaka Congolese Tribal Mask for Initiation Rituals, Early 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
With a beautiful dark patina, this early 20th century wooden mask shows a naturalistic human face, flattened, with the forehead, open mouth and stylised teeth in light relief; the ri...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Tribal Style Songye Kifwebe Mask, D. R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
This graphic Songye Kifwebe mask has fine carved lines curved over the eyes and diagonal lines radiating from the nose and mouth in classic Kifwebe form. ...
Category
Late 20th Century Congolese Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood
African Katanda Mask – Lega Tribe, DR Congo – Mid 20th Century
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Bring a piece of African heritage into your space with this authentic vintage Katanda mask from the Lega people of DR Congo. Hand-carved in the mid-20th century, this tribal mask is ...
Category
Vintage 1950s Congolese Tribal Masks
Materials
Hardwood
Early Small Salampasu Warrior's Wood Mask, Zaire, Africa, Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early carved wood small Salampasu Warrior's Mask, Zaire, Africa early 20th century, remains of black and white pigments, on custom stand.
Mask 10", height on stand 14" strong angul...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
$2,200 Sale Price
44% Off