This mask was carved in the style of the Toma people of Guinea. The mask features two slit eyes, two protruding horns from the top and interesting markings carved throughout the forehead and region where a mouth should be. It measures 18.5 inches tall and weighs 2 pounds. There is some minor imperfections including scrapes and scuffs – please inspect images. Stand not included.
Attractive Toma Style Mask with Horns 18.5″- Guinea – African Art
$150.00 $75.00
1 in stock
| Type of Object | Face Mask |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Guinea |
| Ethnicity | Toma, Thoma |
| Material | pigment, wood |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 18.5" |
| Width (Inches) | 8.25" |
| Depth (Inches) | 5'' |
| Weight (Pounds) | 2 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Good with minor imperfections – see photos. |
Tribe Information
About the Toma People
“The Toma people of Guinea (known as Loma in Liberia) number 200,000 and live in the high-altitude rain forest lying across the Guinea-Liberia border. Artistically, their reputation rests on their Landai mask which has an articulated crocodile jaw and a flattened, stylized human face. This mask symbolically devours Poro society candidates at the end of their initiation period, after which they are revived as full members of this sodality. Some rare figures exist which are kept within each household.”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.