Face Mask
- Artist Culture
- Ligbi artist,
Jula artist - Date
- late 19th–early 20th century
- Material
- Wood, pigment
- possibly associated with
- Zanzan district, Western Africa and the Guinea Coast, Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
Brong-Ahafo region, Western Africa and the Guinea Coast, Ghana, Africa - Classification
- Costume & clothing, masks
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 117
- Dimensions
- 11 7/8 x 6 x 3 7/8 in. (30.2 x 15.2 x 9.8 cm)
- Credit Line
- Funds given by Howard F. Baer in honor of his wife, Isabel A. Baer
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 140:1972
NOTES
This mask celebrates female beauty through its exquisite hairstyle and refined traits. Its lustrous surface results from the application of oils and pigments, such as indigo and henna. In addition to earrings or other jewelry, these materials would refresh the mask’s appearance before each performance. An entertaining spectacle among Muslim communities, "Do" masquerades occur at weddings and celebrations connected with the Islamic calendar such as during the month of Shawwal, a time of rejoicing after the month-long fasting during Ramadan. Dancing in an open space in front of a mosque, "Do" masqueraders complement the mask with a full body costume of colorful printed cloth.
Provenance
- c.1970-1971
Karl-Heinz Krieg, Neuenkirchen, Germany
c.1970-1971 - 1972
Alexander Roth Gallery / Alexander-Suggs Gallery, Inc., Clayton, MO, USA, acquired from Karl-Heinz Krieg [1]
1972 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Alexander-Suggs Gallery, Inc. [2]
Notes:
[1] In an email dated September 27, 2010 to Matthew Robb, Michael Roth stated this object "came to Alexander Roth Gallery in 1970-71 from Karl Heinz-Krieg" [copy of email in SLAM document files].
[2] An invoice dated November 1, 1972 from Alexander-Suggs Gallery, Inc. to the Saint Louis Art Museum documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Senufo sub-tribe kpelie mask" [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, October 31, 1972.
Karl-Heinz Krieg, Neuenkirchen, Germany
c.1970-1971 - 1972
Alexander Roth Gallery / Alexander-Suggs Gallery, Inc., Clayton, MO, USA, acquired from Karl-Heinz Krieg [1]
1972 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Alexander-Suggs Gallery, Inc. [2]
Notes:
[1] In an email dated September 27, 2010 to Matthew Robb, Michael Roth stated this object "came to Alexander Roth Gallery in 1970-71 from Karl Heinz-Krieg" [copy of email in SLAM document files].
[2] An invoice dated November 1, 1972 from Alexander-Suggs Gallery, Inc. to the Saint Louis Art Museum documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Senufo sub-tribe kpelie mask" [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, October 31, 1972.