| Type of Object | Helmet Mask |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) |
| Ethnicity | Senufo |
| Material | Pigment, Wood |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 19" |
| Width (Inches) | 10" |
| Depth (Inches) | 10.5" |
| Weight (Pounds) | 5lbs |
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Senufo Figural African Helmet Mask 19″ – Ivory Coast
$225.00 $112.50
1 in stock
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Tribe Information
About the Senufo People
“Scattered across the Ivory Coast, Mali and Burkina Faso, the million and a half Senufo tribespeople live principally off the fruits of agriculture and occasionally hunting. They inhabit villages governed by a council of elders, who in turn are led be a chief elected from their number. Tribal cohesion is reinforced through the rituals of the Poro society who initiate and educate the men from the age of seven onwards. Senufo theology is based on Koulotiolo, a powerful god, and Katieleo, a goddess mother, who through the rituals of the Poro society, regenerates the world.
The Senufo were among the first tribal artists to be admired by the Western world. Their artistic output has been prolific – statues and masks characterized by realistic features or highly geometric shapes which emphasize rhythm and the opposition between void and full spaces.”
Additional Information
Senufo Masks
“Senufo people use different kinds of mask depending upon the occasion. Face masks, known as Kpeliyee, are worn during Poro society ceremonies. They display a typical heart-shaped face surrounded by ‘wings’. Among the helmet masks is a Janus buffalo mask worn during funeral ceremonies and at times of crisis. Their principal purpose is to destroy malevolent spirits – their power comes from a small cup located at the top of the helmet-head which holds magical substances; sometimes their mouths issue sparks conferring on them the name, ‘firespitter’. Another type of helmet mask used during Poro initiation ceremonies displays the head of a buffalo topped with a pair of antler horns. The Senufo have also produced three types of headdress. One is a small wooden cap which supports a female figure and is worn during celebrations to honour the most productive village farmer. A second type of wooden cap is worn by healers and issues a pair of animal horns. Lastly, a headdress supporting vertical, open-worked panel is worn during Poro society initiations.”
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