Mask

Date

mid-20th century

Creator

Unidentified We artist

Unrecorded Guere/We artist

Location

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

This mask was worn for ritual performances at funerals and festivals in villages to appease and control potentially destructive wild spirits. The dozens of wooden pegs surrounding the face of the mask were carved to look like leopard claws. These carved claws indicated that the mask was a powerful predatory night spirit.

Creator

Formerly attributed to Unidentified We artist Unrecorded Guere/We artist

Date

mid-20th century

Classification

Apparel and Adornments

Medium

Wood, pigment, white clay, red clay, leopard claws, cowrie shells, bone, wild animal fur, cotton rope, indigo dyed cotton cloth,1923 CFA (African Frances) 25 centimes coins, metal tacks, nails, plant fiber, twigs, metal staples, ritual surface substances

Accession number

2016.049.008

Subject

Ivorian

masks

Wee

Access

Raclin Murphy Museum: 101A

Dimensions

17 3/4 x 15 x 11 1/2 in. (45.09 x 38.1 x 29.21 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of David Christensen

Metadata

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Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at RMMACollections@nd.edu.