Senufo Janus Firespitter Mask 16″ – Ivory Coast – African Art*

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This mask was carved in the style of a firespitter from the Senufo people of Ivory Coast. The mask measures 16 inches tall, 30.5 inches long, and weighs 17.5 pounds. There is one chipped tooth and some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout – please inspect photos carefully.

Type of Object

Helmet Mask

Ethnicity

Senufo

Country of Origin

Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire)

Material

Wood and pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height (Inches)

16"

Width (Inches)

11.5"

Depth (Inches)

30.5"

Weight (Pounds)

17.5 lbs

Overall Condition

Some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout.

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.”