Description:

Western Africa, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, Dan/Kran peoples, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden mask depicting the intriguing countenance of a Bagle, a ceremonial personality who performs a myriad of dances and theatrical performances. The ovoid mask is covered in dark-brown earthen material and features a bulging, plateaued brow above cylindrical resin eyes, a narrow nose centered between gaunt cheeks and recessed orbital sockets, and a gaping mouth lined with tufts of human hair and filled with folded metal tabs and a few human teeth. Remains of original citrine-hued pigment are visible around the eyes and mouth, and the carved-out verso features incredibly smooth patina. Lucite display stand for photography purposes only. Size: 5.875" W x 11.125" H (14.9 cm x 28.3 cm)

For a stylistically similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1980.562.1

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Allan Stone collection, New York, New York, USA

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#154498

  • Condition: Chipping to earthen material across face and peripheries, with small tufts of hair missing, heavy encrustations, a few stable hairline fissures on front, nicks to face, some human teeth, peripheries, and verso, and fading to original pigmentation, otherwise intact and very good. Nice earthen deposits throughout, and great patina within carved-out verso.

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April 23, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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