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THBIvory Coast Guro Painted Wood Mask w/ Forked Crest
Lot 46a
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,000 - $1,800
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
West Africa, Ivory Coast, Guro people, ca. 1920 CE. A dynamic painted wood mask from the Guro peoples of central Ivory Coast, this early 20th century example is crowned by a bold, forked crest composed of five vertical tines, painted in alternating bands of faded blue and white pigment. Below this towering headdress rises a sharply modeled face, its elongated form tapering to a prominent chin. High-arched brows, slit eyes, and a jutting angular nose all convey intensity and watchfulness. The hair is rendered in finely ribbed relief, framed by horns curving outward and forward, further emphasizing the vertical thrust of the piece. Facial markings include incised elements above the brow and on each cheek, as well as blue and black pigment accents beneath the eyes and mouth. The perimeter is pierced with holes for attachment to a raffia costume. Size: 5.5" L x 7.6" W x 22" H (14 cm x 19.3 cm x 55.9 cm)
This mask likely belongs to the zaouli or djela performance traditions, where masks were animated through acrobatic dance, accompanied by drums and communal celebration. While the Baule and Guro share visual language, the Guro are especially noted for dramatic crests and bold color. The form combines anthropomorphic and abstract motifs in a single vertical plane, integrating ideals of feminine beauty, animal strength, and spiritual elevation. Though once vibrantly painted, the surviving surface patina and pigment traces now speak to age, use, and generations of performance. In ceremonial context, such masks acted as intermediaries between the visible and invisible worlds, honoring ancestors, invoking spirits, and reinforcing social cohesion through display and movement.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired via descent in 2010; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in December 2002; Taylor Dale Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#196225Some chipping, nicks, and abrasions to surface, as well as some small areas of old, inactive insect damage. A few stable fissures to wood in areas. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive remaining pigments and light patina throughout. Old label on verso with raffia cord for easy display.Condition
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